Australia managed just one win from their three group-stage matches. Kaif pointed to a series of recent ICC campaigns to underline the team’s downward trajectory: a Super Eight exit in the 2024 T20 World Cup, a semi-final loss in the 2025 Champions Trophy, and defeat in the 2025 World Test Championship final.
Kaif also suggested that India’s all-rounder Hardik Pandya could have changed history in the 2023 ODI World Cup final. Writing on X, he said:
“Mighty Aussies they were called after winning the 2023 50-overs World Cup. After that they had a sharp fall. 2024 World T20, 2025 Champions Trophy, 2025 World Test Championship – they were not Mighty. If Hardik Pandya had played the Ahmedabad final in 2023, the Aussies would have lost there too.”
Pandya had suffered an ankle injury against Bangladesh during the 2023 ODI World Cup, ruling him out of the rest of the tournament. His absence was widely felt, as India missed the balance he provides as a seam-bowling all-rounder.
Australia’s recent struggles have continued into the 2026 T20 World Cup. They started the campaign with a convincing win over Ireland but were stunned by a 23-run defeat to Zimbabwe, putting them under pressure. In their must-win clash against Sri Lanka national cricket team on February 16, Australia failed to defend a strong batting start, as Pathum Nissanka’s unbeaten century guided Sri Lanka to victory.
The final blow came when the Zimbabwe-Ireland fixture was abandoned due to rain, officially confirming Australia’s elimination. Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe advanced from Group B to the Super Eight stage, with Zimbabwe set to face West Indies, India, and South Africa in the next round.
Australia’s early exit marks a disappointing chapter for a team once considered dominant across formats, and Kaif’s comments underscore the contrast between their past glory and current struggles.
