Rohit Sharma, Dravid face scrutiny over alleged role in World Cup pitch alteration

• Former cricketer Mohammed Kaif alleges Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma's involvement in rigging the pitch for the India vs. Australia World Cup Final
• Kaif claims to have witnessed changes in the pitch's condition during the days preceding the final, suggesting deliberate manipulation to favor Australia's bowlers
• Allegations have sparked controversy and raised questions about the fairness of pitch preparation and its impact on the match outcome

In a startling revelation, former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif has stirred controversy by alleging the involvement of India's head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma in rigging the pitch used in the World Cup Final against Australia. The match, held on November 19 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, ended in a crushing defeat for India, leaving fans and experts alike questioning the team's performance amidst accusations of pitch manipulation.

“Cummins had the learning from the first match against India in Chennai. He had won the toss and batted first, and India won the game easily in the run-chase. In the final, teams usually don't opt for fielding. We did that in 2003 and we lost. But Cummins learned from that and chased, irrespective of the occasion,” said Kaif.

As the details unfold, Kaif's claims shed light on the alleged visits of Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid to the pitch in the days leading up to the final. According to Kaif, the pitch underwent noticeable changes under their supervision, transforming into a slow surface that played to the advantage of the Australian bowlers. The revelations have sparked intense debate over the fairness of the pitch preparation process and its impact on the outcome of the highly anticipated match.

“If it was a normal pitch... the form that Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav were in.. they were in great touch! If we had a flat pitch, 100% we would have won. Ham wicket me doctoring karne ke chakkar me phas gaye (We doctored the wicket, and that led to our loss),” concluded Kaif.