New Delhi: The War of Words between ex-Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif and Australian opener David Warner had reignited as the former has once again claimed that India was indeed the best team of CWC 2023.
After the tournament’s favorite India lost in the finals of the World Cup against mighty Australia, Kaif asserted that despite failing to win the World Cup, India was the best team of the entire tournament on paper. He said, “I can never accept that the best team has won the World Cup. The Indian team is the best team on paper.”
Perform when it matters
Mohammad Kaif’s statement unpleased Australia’s World Cup-winning opener David Warner who responded to Kaif and said that the team that performs better when it matters the most is the best team.
He wrote, “I like MK (Mohammad Kaif), the 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”
Here’s Warner’s tweet:
I like MK, 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 👍 https://t.co/DBDOCagG2r
— David Warner (@davidwarner31) November 22, 2023
Mohammad Kaif hits back again
Now, in his latest statement, the ex-Indian cricketer has once again responded to Warner and said that Australia should relax.
Although Kaif accepted that Australia was a better team on the day of finals, he maintained his stance by saying that India was indeed the top team of the tournament as they had won 10 games in a row and dominated the league stage of the tournament
His post read, “Facts: It was Australia’s day in the final, they won, they are World Cup winners. More facts: India comprehensively won 10 games, they lost 11th, and they had the best bowlers and batters. They were the tournament’s best team. Both facts, on paper and on the field. Relax Australia.”
Check it out here:
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.— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) November 23, 2023
Netizens troll Mohammad Kaif
Kaif’s recent comment has now triggered the cricket fans from both India and Australia who are trolling him mercilessly for trying to prove that India was second to none in the Cricket World Cup 2023 despite losing the finals in their own backyard to the Australian team.
Australia is relax n happy with WC win, but you have embarrassed us, should have accepted defeat gracefully. Stop embracing more. 🤧
— 𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶.🏴 (@kohlifangirl178) November 23, 2023
Australia lost the first two, bottom of the table won 9 on the bounce! Won against Afg when their chips were completely down & out. Read the conditions better on the finals day! Built pressure with their super fielding and killed the game in mid overs where India’s strength lies.…
— Anurag Rekhi (@Dravidict) November 23, 2023
Paper world cup 🥲 pic.twitter.com/3wjOpVax3Q
— Nadim. (@nadimspeaks) November 23, 2023
I understood what you are trying to say.
Australia might have won the world and was a better team in the final but if you talk about the team of the tournament it’s surely India.India dominance was unreal and it’s just one bad game that doesn’t take that credit from India…!
I… pic.twitter.com/gpKOmxPmOF— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) November 23, 2023
Please next time play world cup on paper so you might win that
— Bobby Ajum (@Bobby_Ajum) November 23, 2023
— Jigar (@Jigarr96) November 23, 2023
Cry more!
— The Second Act (@WahSaeenWah) November 23, 2023
Congratulations to us on winning the paper world cup pic.twitter.com/R4KdqgIXun
— Cricket Guruji (@CricketGuruji6) November 23, 2023
Stop defending your statement
Stop embarrassing yourself and us 🤦🏻♂️😵💫😵💫😵💫— Bored_biotechnologist (@imbb_vhc) November 23, 2023
Kaif Dekho 😃 #AusVsInd #Final #ICCMensCricketWorldCup2023 pic.twitter.com/MiSnBqgJad
— Shuaib Rehman (@SMRehmaan) November 23, 2023
Previously, an Australian broadcaster/commentator Glenn Mitchell mocked Kaif for claiming that India was the best team of CWC 2023 on Papers by saying that someone should remind the ex-cricketer that World Cup finals are played and won on the field, not the papers.
For the unversed, Mohammad Kaif was also a part of World Cup 2003’s Indian team which performed exceptionally well in the entire tournament but got thrashed by Ricky Pointing’s Australia in the finals.