Mohammed Kaif - The Forgotten Hero

[shubham45]

THE FORGOTTEN HERO. Born on 1st december 1980 Mohd Kaif the man who led UP team to its first ranji trophy victory and Indian under 19 team to its first ever world cup victory was never appreciated for his works. The allahabad hero has seen many ups and downs in his career even performing well in ranji matches he has always been over looked by selectors just due to his slow and unorthodox batting style . When india toured England in 2007-2008 Kaif was choosen in place of injured Sachin Tendulkar but was dropped from the side even without playing a match this is what you call a fair selection?? A hero always makes a comeback but this hero was never allowed to make a comeback by state loyal selectors. The UP captain is always over looked for the Challeneger series also the man who once captained the India Green side was humilated when in 2009 when his name was not featured in 52 players list for challenger trophy. The’ Best Indian fielder ‘the title given to him my the great John Wright was also humilated by his IPL side when in 2009 in IPL season 2 when without even playing a match the great UP man was send home is that the way you treat a senior player . All his great contributions are forgotten. His natwest series knock is still so fresh in my mind ………. It was the final of the Natwest Series, a one-day competition featuring England, India and Sri Lanka. Amazingly, England had got to the final. Even more amazingly, they had set India 326 to win off 50 overs. Marcus Trescothick hit a hundred and so did Nasser Hussain. It was Hussain's only one-day hundred and the occasion when he 'gestured' at the press. It was something about batting at three. It was all a bit vague. India started their reply reasonably well, but eventually fell to 146-5. They were 180 runs adrift with two young middle-order batsmen at the crease, Yuvraj Singh, then 20 and Mohammad Kaif, then 21. Perhaps England felt they'd done the hard work by getting down to India's sixth and seventh batsmen; two relative novices. If they thought they'd won the game, they were wrong. What followed were two of the most perfect one-day innings imaginable. They were the kinds of innings that would be jaw-dropping if they came from 200 cap veterans. They were calm, played themselves in and raised their tempo as the run-rate climbed. Many a player before and since would have balked at the target and given up. Not these two. Yuvraj Singh was out for 69, but Mohammad Kaif saw India home with 87 not out. Any batsman could have picked up tips as to how to go about a run-chase. These unflappable wise man was just 20 . His this heroic victory could never be forgotten and his this innings showed the crictics that Indians are capable of chasing as well. Images of Ganguly waving his shirt in lords balcony is still very clear in minds of all cricket fans and this man was responsible for such a great view was MOHD KAIF . http://iplkhabar.hindilok.com/images/content/mohammad_kaif_coseup.jpg

[gaurav92]

True that this was his best innings, but one innings can't decide the quality of a player.I can show instances wherein he got out on duck, and his average has been very ordinary in every format of the game.He has got many chances in the past but his dry run carried on for more than what he would have liked. He scored poorly in 05-06 and hence was dropped after the SAF tour in 06-07.

[Sir john]

kaif did't learn anything in his 6 year carrier. :((

[Sid]

kaif did't learn anything in his 6 year carrier. :((

:hysterical::hysterical:

[philcric]

Virat Kohli, in his short career, has already played more important / match-winning innings than Kaif did in his entire career.

[pensionplan]

Much of a nothing player. A strokeless wonder as I fondly like to call him. When dropped from the Indian team in 2006 never was able to make his way back into the team. Goes on to show how lucky he was to play 125 ODI's and 13 Tests with his mediocre talent. One of those flashy U-19 players that made it easy into the team without having to come through the ranks by sweating it out in the domestics. Never want to see the sight of this guy ever again in the Indian team.

[Andy]

Virat Kohli' date=' in his short career, has already played more important / match-winning innings than Kaif did in his entire career.[/quote'] Not taking anything away from Virat, But Kaif won us a Final outside SC. Cant recall which Final Virat have won, Let alone outside SC.

[Clarke]

lol @ hero

[ZodiaC]

Not taking anything away from Virat' date=' But Kaif won us a Final outside SC. Cant recall which Final Virat have won, Let alone outside SC.[/quote'] ++

[Shane]

I remember only two of his knocks both coming when we were down for the count, one the Natwest Final and another one against Zim in SL, I think in the Champions Trophy or something he scored 111*

[littlemaster1982]

Yes, we were 87 for 5 at one stage. Dravid and Kaif forged a big partnership to take India to a respectable total. He isn't that bad as made out, IMO.

[Hindustani]

kaif did't learn anything in his 6 year carrier. :((

Exactly, he is above average player but has got enough chances, there is NO need for BCCI to look back at him, it is better if more chances are given to people like Kohli who seems to have much better technique.

Not taking anything away from Virat' date=' But Kaif won us a Final outside SC. Cant recall which Final Virat have won, Let alone outside SC.[/quote'] Sunil Joshi too had got figures of 6 for 12 in a match in SA, if you play International cricket for couple of years, by law of average, you will get one great day, kaif deserve the credit for a great inning but he hasn't done anything even in domestic cricket for years now

[King Tendulkar]

Virat Kohli' date=' in his short career, has already played more important / match-winning innings than Kaif did in his entire career.[/quote'] +++++

[Sachin=GOD]

He is not a bad player by any means but he could'nt keep pace with the ever increasing competition from players like Raina, Kohli , Rohit Sharma etc. I doubt he will ever come back in the team.

[saneindian]

One of the players who showed the youngsters in the country why you need to take fieding seriously. Since then any young batsman aiming to play for India knows that he needs to be a good fielder besides being a good batsman. With Yuvraj and Kaif in the ring on the off side, watching our team in ODIs was such a wonderful experience. Forget his batting for a while, his fielding skills alone make him a superstar in our history.

[King Tendulkar]

kaif was rubbish!!!!! a disgrace he had so many chances!!!!!!

[Sid]

He is not a bad player by any means but he could'nt keep pace with the ever increasing competition from players like Raina' date=' Kohli , Rohit Sharma etc. I doubt he will ever come back in the team.[/quote'] He never had competetion from raina,rohit or virat,he was just not good enough,he went through horror run throughout 2006 and we kept on picking him for his fielding abilities only :giggle:

[Sid]

One of the players who showed the youngsters in the country why you need to take fieding seriously. Since then any young batsman aiming to play for India knows that he needs to be a good fielder besides being a good batsman. With Yuvraj and Kaif in the ring on the off side, watching our team in ODIs was such a wonderful experience. Forget his batting for a while, his fielding skills alone make him a superstar in our history.

LOL

[Andy]

Exactly, he is above average player but has got enough chances, there is NO need for BCCI to look back at him, it is better if more chances are given to people like Kohli who seems to have much better technique. Sunil Joshi too had got figures of 6 for 12 in a match in SA, if you play International cricket for couple of years, by law of average, you will get one great day, kaif deserve the credit for a great inning but he hasn't done anything even in domestic cricket for years now

Agreed, But the instance you are bringing in is of an one off match and that too in a bilateral series. Kaif's performance of 87 not out stands out because it was made in a Final and Outside SC where i dont remember last time we won a Final before 2002 Natwest Series. Not just that 111* against Zim in CT 2002 , He had another few Big performances. One went in a losing cause in 2005 tri series Final against NZ and another was in the WC Super 8 or 6 dont remember how it was known as those days against NZ. In the end the score card will give you a view how comfortably we won, But let me tell you Shane Bond was almost Unplayable in that match. Got Ganguly of a brilliant delivery. Dravid almost went had mcculum not dropped the catch off Bond. India were tottering at 3 for 21 when Kaif and Dravid came in. He got 68* . Here is the scorecard http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/65281.html PPS : Am not a Kaif Fan.:giggle:

[spectre]

Natwest Finals Champions Trophy match against Zim and WC 2003 vs Pakistan are some of his best performances. I agree that he is not good enough