Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has launched a sharp critique of Australia following their unexpected exit from the ICC T20 World Cup. Kaif did not mince words, pointing to what he described as a noticeable decline in Australia’s performances across recent ICC tournaments after their 2023 ODI World Cup triumph.

Taking to X, Kaif wrote, “Mighty Aussies they were called after winning the 2023 50-overs World Cup. After that they had a sharp fall.” He backed that claim by listing Australia’s subsequent results — a Super Eight exit in the 2024 T20 World Cup, a semi-final defeat in the 2025 Champions Trophy, and a loss in the final of the 2025 World Test Championship.

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In a separate remark, Mohammad Kaif made a bold claim about the 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad. “If Hardik Pandya had played the Ahmedabad final in 2023, the Aussies would have lost there too,” he stated.

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…

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) February 17, 2026

Hardik Pandya had suffered an ankle injury during India’s league match against Bangladesh in that tournament, ruling him out of the knockout stages. His absence disrupted India’s team balance, particularly the all-round depth he offers with both bat and ball.

Australia’s struggles have now extended into 2026. They started their campaign with a comfortable win over Ireland but were stunned by Zimbabwe in a 23-run defeat that left them under pressure. In a must-win clash against Sri Lanka, they failed to defend a competitive total despite a promising start.

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Pathum Nissanka’s unbeaten century guided Sri Lanka to victory, pushing Australia to the brink. The final blow came when the Zimbabwe-Ireland fixture was abandoned due to rain, officially ending Australia’s campaign.

For a team long synonymous with dominance, this early exit signals a period of transition — and perhaps, as Kaif suggests, the end of the “mighty” era.