‘Relax Australia’: Ex-Indian opener doubles down on ridiculous World Cup final claim
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has doubled down on a ridiculous claim about the World Cup final while telling Australia to “relax”.
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has doubled down on his claim that the best team did not win the World Cup, calling on Australia to “relax” after backlash to his comments.
Kaif made headlines in the aftermath of Australia’s seven-wicket win over India in the early hours of Monday morning and even caught the attention of David Warner in the process.
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“I can never accept that the best team has won the World Cup. The Indian team is the best team on paper,” Kaif said on Star Sports.
“Congratulations to Australia but I am not ready to accept that the best team won the World Cup,” Kaif added.
“This Indian team has been the best side. They are the best team on paper. They would win so many times playing against the same Australian team, even though they lost today. It was one of those bad day, this happens sometimes.”
Warner, meanwhile, took to social media to respond as he argued how a team performs on the day is more important than how talented they are on paper.
“I like MK (Kaif), issue is it does not matter what’s on paper. At the end of the day you need to perform when it matters. That’s why they call it a final. That’s the day that counts and it can go either way, that’s sports. 2027 here we come,” he wrote.
Warner’s argument though doesn’t seem to have convinced Kaif, who once again took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to maintain his original position on Thursday evening.
“Facts: It was Australia’s day in final, they won, they are World Cup winners. More facts: India comprehensively won 10 games, they lost 11th, they had the best bowlers and batters. They were the tournament’s best team. Both facts, on paper and on field. Relax Australia,” wrote Kaif.
Facts: It was Australia's day in final, they won, they are World Cup winners.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) November 23, 2023
More facts: India comprehensively won 10 games, they lost 11th, they had the best bowlers and batters. They were the tournament's best team.
Both facts, on paper and on field. Relax Australia.
This time around Australia got support from England cricket great Michael Vaughan, who had a cheeky reply in response to Kaif’s claim that India was the tournament’s “best team”.
“Usually the tournaments best team lift the trophy at the end of the event,” Vaughan wrote.
Usually the tournaments best team lift the trophy at the end of the event .. 😜 https://t.co/1FhJY0g44k
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 23, 2023
Kaif was not the only one downplaying Australia’s achievement, with former Indian Test batter Sanjay Manjrekar also claiming the toss call put India at a disadvantage.
Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has since come out and given full credit to Australia’s tactics in the final, while admitting they ‘deceived’ him with their decision to bowl first.
Originally published as ‘Relax Australia’: Ex-Indian opener doubles down on ridiculous World Cup final claim
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