Mohammed Kaif Slams Shoaib Akhtar After India’s Dominant Win Over Pakistan

India’s emphatic 61-run victory over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup has triggered strong reactions on both sides of the border. While much of the conversation focused on Pakistan’s disappointing performance — especially being bowled out for just 114 — former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif believes the narrative has unfairly ignored India’s excellence.

Pakistan’s batting collapse and lack of intensity became the central talking point after the match. However, Kaif argued that such framing diminishes the quality and composure shown by the Indian team under immense pressure.

Speaking during a debate on ABP News, Kaif expressed his displeasure at how the discussion unfolded, particularly responding to former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar’s comments.

Kaif said that constantly portraying Pakistan as a weak or underperforming side takes away from India’s achievement. He remarked that if Pakistan had won, the tone of the discussion would have been completely different, possibly criticizing India for arrogance or overconfidence.

He emphasized that India’s victory was not merely about Pakistan’s failures but about India stepping up on the big stage. Kaif highlighted Ishan Kishan’s explosive 77 off 40 balls as a prime example of performing under extreme pressure. Playing his first match against Pakistan, Kishan delivered one of the most memorable innings in India-Pakistan T20 World Cup history.

Kaif pointed out the enormous scrutiny Indian players face in high-stakes encounters. He noted that a loss would have triggered intense criticism, recalling the backlash following India’s defeat in the 2021 T20 World Cup.

According to Kaif, players like Ishan Kishan, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav would have been heavily questioned had the result gone the other way. He stressed that handling such pressure and delivering a commanding win speaks volumes about India’s temperament and quality.

With this victory, India have advanced to the Super 8 stage of the tournament. Kaif’s remarks underline a key point — in high-profile contests like India vs Pakistan, success is built not just on the opponent’s mistakes but on skill, resilience, and the ability to thrive under extraordinary pressure.