Down and out : Does Team India need to learn the White-Ball Game?

This is the question from Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan. He asks, ”What has India done since winning 50 over World Cup if not yet learnt the White-Ball game?”

Following a humiliating ten-wicket debacle against England in the  semi-final of 2022 T20 World Cup, the words uttered by Michael Vaughan analyze India as the “most under-performing white-ball team in the Cricket history.”

Vaughan says, Team India was considered as favorites to reach the finals and they were forced to learn how to play T20 cricket after on November 10, Team England rollicked to a bouncing victory with 4 overs to spare on.

In his media column, Michael Vaughan writes “It is difficult to believe that Team India is the most under-performing white-ball squad in the cricket history. The international players who go to the IPL hold how the League has improved their game but there is nothing when we see what India has ever delivered?”

Talking about the Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, Vaughan further asks, when he was part of the squad, why didn’t he get a game. He also questions approach of coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma about defending a moderate total of 168 runs. He asks, why Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin were preferred over Chahal in all the games in the tourney?

“Always there is a need in T20 cricket for a spinner who could  the ball both ways. There are plenty of leg-spinners. Where have they gone?

The former English cricketer sounded sad about the way Team India got out of the World Cup. “What have they done while defending 168 runs? Why do you put on Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowling outswing to allow Alex Hales and Jos Buttler a width. Why did not you use the left-arm seamer swinging it in to Hales and Buttler in the first over? Sheer madness. They should be cramped for room. Why give the rivals a chance to get off to a flyer in the 1st over itself settling nerves!” he says.