David Warner gives reality check to Mohammad Kaif over 'best team on paper' comment

Australian opener David Warner has given a reality check to former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif while countering his statement that 'Team India is the best team on paper.'

The Aussies emerged winner of the ICC World Cup 2023 defeating India by six wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on November 19.

But the statement by Mohammad Kaif caused attention when he said 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".

The 36-year-old Warner responded to a tweet by commentator Glenn Mitchell, where he lightly criticised Kaif's remark.

"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.

Remember, Australia won their sixth World Cup on the back of Travis Head's brilliant knock of 137 off 120 balls. Travis Head single-handedly took the game away from India. Team India remained undefeated in the tournament until they reached the finals of the World Cup.