‘You are spoiling young players’: Gautam Gambhir, Shubman Gill face Mohammad Kaif’s brutal verdict after West Indies ODIs

India’s 2-1 ODI series victory over the West Indies may have delivered the desired result, but former India batter Mohammad Kaif believes the scoreline hides some worrying questions about the team’s preparation for the future.

Kaif has strongly criticised the Gautam Gambhir-led Indian team management over what he sees as an inconsistent approach towards young players. He was particularly unhappy with the decision to drop pacer Auqib Nabi after giving him only one opportunity in the series.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif argued that bringing young cricketers into the side without giving them a reasonable run could hurt both their confidence and India’s efforts to build reliable backups ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.

‘Why did they drop Nabi?’ Kaif questions India’s approach

Kaif’s biggest concern was the way India handled their younger bowling options.

“You are bringing new guys but not backing them. If you have played someone, give more chances,” Kaif said.

He specifically questioned the decision to leave out Auqib Nabi, pointing out that another pace option, Anshul Kamboj, also proved expensive.

“Why did they drop Nabi? Kamboj also got hit anyway. You are spoiling young players by doing this,” he added.

Kaif argued that Nabi may now have to wait a long time for another opportunity in white-ball cricket, something he believes reflects poorly on India’s planning.

With the next ODI World Cup drawing closer, the former India star warned that constantly experimenting without properly backing players could eventually leave the team short of dependable alternatives.

Kaif backs Shubman Gill but spots a major problem

Despite his criticism, Kaif was more sympathetic towards captain Shubman Gill, acknowledging that the young skipper is still developing as a leader.

According to Kaif, Gill’s job has been made more difficult by the relative inexperience of the bowling attack around him.

“He has less experience and is a work in progress. He is still learning as a captain and getting into that role,” Kaif said.

However, he felt some of India’s decisions during the series suggested uncertainty.

Kaif pointed to the frequent changes involving Nabi, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Kamboj, arguing that India appeared unable to settle on a clear bowling combination.

He also suggested that Gill looked under pressure when opposition batters began scoring quickly, particularly when tactical decisions had to be made under demanding match situations.

‘Nothing was added on from this series’

While established batters producing runs is always encouraging, Kaif believes India needed more from the West Indies series than another demonstration of their senior players’ quality.

He argued that centuries and big scores from established names such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul should not be considered the biggest takeaway.

For Kaif, the real purpose of such a series should have been to strengthen areas where India remain vulnerable.

“When you play a series, you try to add on and improve on your weakness,” he said.

The former batter felt that India failed to achieve that objective, particularly with their bowling resources.

He acknowledged Kuldeep Yadav’s wickets as a positive but maintained that the series did little to solve the broader concerns surrounding India’s attack.

Kaif went as far as suggesting that the uncertainty could have affected Gill’s confidence as captain.

“It’s like the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. There was no positive added,” he remarked.

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Mohammed Shami situation also questioned

Kaif’s criticism was not restricted to the captain and coaching staff. He also questioned the role of the Indian selection committee, particularly over the handling of experienced fast bowler Mohammed Shami.

Kaif believes selectors with extensive bowling experience should be better placed to understand the different phases a fast bowler can go through during a long international career.

He specifically mentioned chief selector Ajit Agarkar, pointing out that Agarkar himself had made several comebacks during his playing days.

According to Kaif, fluctuations in fitness, rhythm and form are normal parts of a cricketer’s career, and experienced players should not necessarily be written off when they encounter such periods.

India win series, but World Cup questions remain

India ultimately walked away with a 2-1 series victory, but Kaif’s assessment puts the focus firmly on the bigger picture.

With the 2027 ODI World Cup approaching, India need not only an established batting core but also a settled and confident group of bowlers capable of performing under pressure.

For young players, opportunities at international level can be rare. Kaif’s argument is straightforward: if the management believes a player deserves selection, he should also be given enough time to prove himself.

India won the series, but in Kaif’s view, the bigger test for Gautam Gambhir, Shubman Gill and the selectors will be whether they can turn experimentation into a clear World Cup plan — without damaging the confidence of the youngsters they are trying to develop.