Mohammad Kaif, one of the greatest fielders ever, on Sunday (May 10) acknowledged that the current Indian team has a number of good fielders but he feels none of them is a "complete package" like Yuvraj Singh and he himself.
Speaking on YouTube channel 'SportScreen’, Kaif explained the traits a complete fielder must have while he also outlined the drawbacks in the current set-up.
"To be a complete package, you need to be a good catcher, you should be able to hit the stumps often, you should be able to run fast, you should have the right technique to grab a moving ball," Kaif, who represented India in 125 ODIs primarily because of his superb fielding skills, said.
"When we were playing, me and Yuvraj made our mark as good fielders. Today, you will find a lot of good fielders in the Indian team, but I don't think there is anyone who is a complete package as a fielder.
"A person who can catch in the slips, who can take a catch at short-leg, can field in long-on boundary by running fast that package I think is missing," he added.
Kaif, 39, also lauded Ravindra Jadeja for becoming better as a fielder with age but he is not satisfied with India's slip catching.
"Ravindra Jadeja is a good fielder, in fact as he is adding on the years, his fielding is also improving. But India's slip fielding isn't up to scratch," he asserted.
On a different note, Kaif was asked to pick between Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in white-ball cricket. Although the former batsman avoided comparison, he confessed that he is a big fan of Rohit’s effortless strokeplay.
"If there are two matches happening in the same city simultaneously and Virat is playing in one and Rohit in another, then I will head to the match featuring Rohit Sharma."
"No doubt, Virat has an outstanding record in Tests and white-ball cricket both, but Rohit has the elegance, so much time while facing a bowler. He is one batsman who can smash a bowler without the bowler even realising that he is under attack."
(With PTI inputs)
