“It’s like you don’t even know your own identity”

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has blasted the management for leaving out Ravi Bishnoi during the third T20I of the five-match series against England. The contest was played on Tuesday, July 7, in Nottingham. Chasing 202, the Men in Blue were bowled out for 76 in 11.4 overs, suffering a massive 125-run defeat.

Meanwhile, Bishnoi, who endured a tough outing in the second T20I, where he conceded 60 runs in his four overs, was dropped for the third game. Speaking on his YouTube channel (Mohammad Kaif), the 45-year-old questioned the decision to drop the leg-spinner after just one poor outing. He added that the management appears to be waiting for players to fail before making changes and questioned the team’s planning and identity. Kaif said:

“Ravi Bishnoi was dropped after just one poor game. Tell me this. If you’re waiting for a player to fail before making changes, then what exactly is your strategy? You’re simply reacting to results. You’re changing direction every time. It’s like you don’t even know your own identity, what your team’s planning is, or what your strategy is.”

Mohammad Kaif further questioned the management’s long-term planning, pointing out that every team backs a leg-spinner and that one poor game can happen to anyone. He added that instead of dropping the 25-year-old, the management should have continued to back him, just as it did with Abhishek Sharma during the 2026 T20 World Cup. Kaif said:

“When the team loses, a player gets dropped immediately. Take Ravi Bishnoi, for example. He had bowled a no-ball, I can understand the criticism. But where is the long-term planning? Every team backs a specialist leg-spinner. One bad match can happen to anyone. We should have backed him instead of dropping him straight away. Every player has a poor game. Some even have two or three. Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for ducks three times during the World Cup, but the team continued to back him, didn’t they? That’s exactly my point. India gave up on Bishnoi too quickly. It was the wrong call.”

Since making his debut in February 2022, Bishnoi has featured in 46 T20Is, taking 64 wickets at an economy rate of 7.58, with best figures of 4/13.

“Team will never perform at its best” – Mohammad Kaif’s huge remark on continuous chopping and changing

In the same discussion, Mohammad Kaif opined that if the management continues to drop players the way it did with Ravi Bishnoi, every player will begin to feel insecure. He added that once this feeling creeps into the dressing room, the team will never perform at its best. Mohammad Kaif said:

“If this is how you’re going to pick the team, every player will start feeling insecure. They’ll think that whenever the team loses, someone is bound to be dropped. Once that insecurity creeps into the dressing room, the team will never perform at its best. I understand that Bishnoi bowled poorly, even conceded a no-ball and had a forgettable outing. But he still deserved another opportunity.”

Shreyas Iyer’s side will return to action on Thursday, July 9, in the penultimate game of the series against England in Bristol.