The injury to star batsman Sachin Tendulkar has come as a blessing in disguise to Mohammed Kaif, who is now looking to prolong his stay at the top of the batting order after two back to back half centuries in the recently concluded NatWest Challenge one-day international series against England.
The 23-year-old batsman, who scored 50 and 51 in the first two matches after being promoted in the batting order, wants to make full use of his good form with the bat to cement his place in the talented side.
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Kaif is the only Indian batsman to have hit two half centuries as the other Indian batsmen struggled and this was only because he has either been promoted up the order or there has been enough overs for him to build an innings.
He mostly bats at number seven but the absence of Tendulkar and an unsettled line-up saw him come at number four and three in the last two matches.
"Nobody would like to bat at number seven by choice. But it so happened that when I broke into the team it was a settled line-up and I could bat at only number seven. I got immediate success and gained the confidence of the captain," Kaif said.
The Allahabad youngster went after the English bowling in the second one-dayer at The Oval coming in at number four because he was aware if he cleared the field the ball would race to the boundary.
"That's the advantage of batting in the first 15 overs. You are aware that if you clear the ring, the ball would go for four runs. You can't do it when the field is spread because then the gaps are plugged," he said.
Kaif said he drew from his experience from playing for India 'A' to face the new ball since he does not get much opportunities to play the new ball in one-day internationals.
"I am not used to playing the new ball so much so I drew from my experience of playing for India 'A'. I have batted at number three and that experience helped me here. I am feeling good, confident and hitting the ball well. I am comfortable at any position, it depends on the team management," Kaif said.
He prefers to analyse and assess the situation before he goes out to bat, depending on the team's position, the wicket and the bowlers operating in the middle.
"Playing alongside Rahul Dravid, Tendulkar, V V S Laxman, you learn so much. It's all a mind game, you have to adopt to the situation and be positive. In one-day cricket you have to be positive at all times. I do so without altering my game too much. I try to play my natural game, keep my wicket and make runs," he said.
Kaif felt he got out at the wrong time at The Oval where he was hitting the ball well and was past his half century.
"I got out at the wrong time in the second match. The team was expecting more from me and I had made the base for the team to pile up a big score.
"We have done well in recent years on the strength of our batsmen making tall scores. I got out at the wrong time but the innings has helped me to gain in confidence," he said.
Kaif might go back to number seven in the ICC Champions Trophy or he might bat in the middle order but he is prepared to bat at any position and do his bit for the team.
"I am confident and feeling good. I am also prepared to bat at any position my team management wants me to do".
Besides his runs, Kaif has also caught the eye as an alert fielder. The latest was the superb flick from forward short leg to run out England's Paul Collingwood at Lord's.