At 79, Mohammad Kaif’s father, Tarif Ansari, is still a formidable cricket player, showing skills that make him look much younger. Despite his age, Tarif, a former cricketer for Railways and Uttar Pradesh, impressed many with his batting prowess in a recent video posted by his son. In the footage, Tarif, without wearing pads, played some impressive cover drives during practice sessions with Mohammad Kaif providing throw-downs. The smoothness and precision of his shots suggested he could still be a strong contender for senior cricket leagues.
Mohammad Kaif shared the video on X, highlighting his father’s remarkable fitness and touch, even at 79. Kaif noted, “This is the secret behind my fitness. My father at 79 fit to bat and still showing great touch. It is all in the genes. In Allahabad, they still talk about Tarif bhai’s sixes.”
Although Kaif retired from professional cricket six years ago, he remains active in various veteran cricket leagues, such as the Road Safety World Series and the Legends League Cricket. At 43, Kaif maintains an impressive level of fitness, enabling him to compete at these events. He was born in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), where he developed his cricketing skills.
Tarif Ansari was a notable cricketing figure for Uttar Pradesh and Railways from 1971 to 1983, playing 55 First-Class matches and amassing 2,506 runs with five centuries. His son, Mohammad Kaif, made a significant impact when he debuted for India in 2000, shortly after leading India’s Under-19 team to a World Cup victory, with Yuvraj Singh also in that squad.
Kaif is remembered for his pivotal performances, notably his unbeaten 87 in the 2002 NatWest Trophy final, which helped India secure a dramatic two-wicket win over England. He also made notable contributions in subsequent matches, including a maiden century against Zimbabwe in the Champions Trophy and a second ODI century against the same team, before registering his first Test century in 2006.