Mohammad Kaif Profile by CricketArchive

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Player:

M Kaif

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DateLine: 5th June 2008

 

Mohammad Kaif is another of those players who have been just travelers within the team. He hails from Uttar Pradesh, a relatively backward first class team and inspite of all obstacles, first came to prominence with his performances for India's Under-19s.

 

He was captain of the side which included the likes of Yuvraj Singh, Ajay Ratra and Reetinder Sodhi, and with this team he led them to victory in the Youth World Cup of 2000. Kaif was known well all around for his assured strokeplay and composure under pressure and he was looked upon as a future middle order prospect for the Indian team.

 

He made his test debut against South Africa in 2000, when he was only 20, but went into the wilderness ever since. He did stints at the Australian Cricket Academy and also the NCA in Bangalore and was recalled to the one-day side during the 2001-2002 home season, and then made a huge impact during the 2002 NatWest series in England where a magnificent unbeaten 87 helped India successfully chase 326 for victory in the final. A superb century followed - against Zimbabwe in the ICC Champions Trophy but he had a quiet World Cup in 2003.

 

Kaif is an exceptional fielder and his favourite position is at cover, and often takes off the heat of some ordinary batting displays. He was dropped for more than a year before being recalled to the Test squad for the second Test against South Africa in 2008 as a replacement for the injured Sachin Tendulkar. He had led Uttar Pradesh to the finals of the Ranji Trophy in 2007.

 

He is also the most expensive player in the Rajasthan Royals IPL team.