“Complacency cost us”: Mohammad Kaif rues lack of intensity in Colombo Test draw

Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has launched a scathing critique of the national team’s performance in the recently concluded Colombo Test, suggesting that a lack of urgency and leadership intensity allowed Sri Lanka to escape with a draw. Despite holding a commanding position in the series, India was unable to force the final two wickets on the last day, a failure that has further complicated their path to the World Test Championship (WTC) final.

The “Kohli Factor”

Reflecting on the final day’s play, where Sonal Dinusha’s unbeaten 133 frustrated the Indian bowling attack, Kaif pointed to the glaring absence of Virat Kohli’s trademark energy. While India had the opportunity to complete a 2-0 series sweep, the team appeared to lack the relentless pressure that has defined successful Indian sides in recent years.

“Playing Tests isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, boss,” Kaif remarked. “I felt that if someone like Virat Kohli had been playing this match, he would have been constantly shouting and keeping his team switched on.”

Kaif argued that India’s mindset was fundamentally flawed, as the players seemed to rely on the pitch to do the work rather than actively crafting a path to victory. According to the former cricketer, the team fell into the trap of believing that wickets would come naturally due to the turn on offer.

A Costly Lapse in Intensity

The draw has left India in a precarious position regarding the WTC standings. Remaining in fifth place with Sri Lanka sitting at sixth, India now faces an uphill battle to secure a spot in the final. With seven Tests remaining, the team is under immense pressure, needing to win at least six of those encounters to stay in control of their own destiny.

Kaif highlighted that during the Colombo Test, the team failed to manufacture pressure, particularly against the set batter, Dinusha. He contrasted the current team’s approach with the aggression Kohli would have likely instilled, noting that instead of engaging with the main obstacles on the pitch, the team focused their energies elsewhere.

“We created very few things ourselves. Our energy levels were also very low,” Kaif added. “He [Kohli] would have been telling everyone, ‘Come on, Sarfaraz, come on, Jaiswal,’ and he would have gone after Sonal [Dinusha] as well. Instead, who were we getting into confrontations with? We were getting into confrontations with [Lahiru] Kumara.”

Looking Ahead

The result in Colombo serves as a wake-up call for the Indian side. As the team prepares for a demanding stretch of the WTC cycle—which includes formidable opponents like Australia—the margin for error has vanished.

Kaif’s comments underscore a growing concern that beyond technical skill, the mental fortitude and “captaincy-level” intensity in the field are non-negotiable for India if they hope to secure a top-two finish. Whether the management can instill that sense of urgency in the coming series remains a critical question for the team’s WTC aspirations.

As the road to the championship grows steeper, fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see if India can shake off the complacency that Kaif believes cost them a vital series victory in Sri Lanka.