"I have never understood the hype around Ben Stokes the captain" - Mohammad Kaif

India’s former cricketer Mohammed Kaif isn’t too pleased with Ben Stokes’ captaincy in the ongoing second Test match against India at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Kaif questioned the hype surrounding Ben Stokes’ captaincy, pointing out several tactical errors made by the English skipper so far in the match. Kaif believes Stokes made a critical mistake by choosing to bowl first on a flat wicket under clear skies after winning the toss. He also criticised the Englishmen for not adding the extra slips despite seeing batters edging the balls on numerous occasions. 

He went on to add that Ben Stokes didn’t make any significant impact with the bat in England’s five-wicket win in the first Test match at Headingley. The England skipper registered scores of 20 (52) and 33 (51) in the two innings of the Test match. 

“I have never understood the hype around Ben Stokes the captain. On a flat track with sun shining he decides to bowl, today with some life in pitch edges flying but no extra slip. Batsmen took England to win in the first Test but Stokes didn't score many. Please inform me if I have missed any of his hidden leadership master stroke.” Kaif wrote in his tweet. 

England chased down a mammoth target of 371 runs in the first Test match, courtesy of an outstanding knock of 149 from Ben Duckett. Ben Stokes also played a handy knock of 33 but failed to stay till the end. However, a superb partnership between Joe Root (53) and Jamie Smith (44) guided England home in the end. 

Meanwhile, England will once again be chasing a big target in the second Test on the fifth day. After a heroic knock of 269 in the first innings, Indian captain Shubman Gill followed it up with another century in India’s second innings on Day 4. Vice-captain Rishabh Pant entertained the crowd with another swashbuckling knock of 65 off 58 balls, while KL Rahul continued his fine run with another half-century. India are currently 357 for 4, leading by 537 runs on day 4.