‘Need to perform when it matters’ – David Warner responds to Mohammad Kaif’s ‘best team on paper’ remark

David Warner. (Photo source: Getty Images)

The Australian cricket team emerged victorious in the 2023 World Cup, defeating India by six wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. However, after the game, former Indian cricketer and commentator Mohammad Kaif expressed his belief that India, not Australia, were the best team on paper.

“I can never expect that the best team has won the World Cup. The Indian Team is the best team on the paper,” Kaif told Star Sports after India’s loss. His statement prompted Australian broadcaster Glenn Mitchell to respond with a post reminding Kaif that the “World Cup finals are won on the cricket field and not on paper”.

“I think someone needs to remind former Indian batter, Mohammad Kaif that World Cup finals are won on a cricket field and not on paper,” Mitchell wrote on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter).

Australia star David Warner joined in the conversation, stating that performance on the day of the final is what matters most.

“I like MK [Mohammad Kaif], issue is it does not matter what’s on paper. At the end of the day you need to perform when it matters. That’s why they call it a final. That’s the day that counts and it can go either way, that’s sports. 2027 here we come,” wrote Warner replying to Mitchell’s post on X.