Former India batter Mohammed Kaif has criticised India’s T20 International team following their 24-run defeat to the West Indies in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Kaif questioned the team’s bowling combination and warned that India could struggle to defend their T20 World Cup title in 2028 if the current issues persist.
India’s bowling attack struggled to contain the West Indies batters after captain Shai Hope produced an unbeaten century. The visitors posted a formidable 247 for three in their 20 overs, putting considerable pressure on India’s batting lineup during the chase.
Kaif, speaking on Cricbuzz, blamed the bowling unit for the defeat, arguing that the team had conceded too many runs and failed to deliver when it mattered. He also pointed out that India’s bowlers had struggled to make a decisive impact throughout the five-match series.
The former cricketer highlighted shortcomings in basic execution, bowling tactics and fielding. He also questioned India’s approach on the Hyderabad pitch, suggesting that slower bouncers could have been an effective option against the opposition’s aggressive batting.
India’s frontline pacers Mayank Yadav and Arshdeep Singh conceded a combined 104 runs in eight overs, while Axar Patel gave away 45 runs in his four overs. Prince Yadav was among India’s more economical options, finishing with figures of one wicket for 36 runs.
Despite the challenging target, India attempted to keep pace with the required run rate but eventually finished at 223 for nine in 19.3 overs, falling short by 24 runs. The result levelled the five-match series at 2-2.
India captain Shreyas Iyer also acknowledged that the team had fallen behind because of its bowling performance. He noted that the side had failed to execute its plans effectively in the opening stages of the West Indies innings.
With the final T20I scheduled to take place in Bengaluru, India’s team combination and bowling strategy are likely to remain major talking points. Kaif’s comments have added to the debate over whether India needs to make changes to strengthen its bowling attack ahead of the 2028 T20 World Cup.
