Team India endured another disappointing campaign in the ICC tournament as they bowed out of the ongoing T20 World Cup on Thursday (November 10).
India suffered a 10-wicket thrashing at the hands of England in the second T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday (November 10).
After the Rohit Sharma-led side failed to end India’s ICC trophy drought, former England skipper Michael Vaughan slammed the Men in Blue for playing outdated style of cricket in the T20 World Cup 2022.
Notably, the Indian team hasn’t won a world title for nearly 10 years. Their last ICC trophy victory came under the leadership of MS Dhoni in 2013 when they lifted the Champions Trophy.
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"India are the most under-performing white-ball team in history," Vaughan wrote in his column for 'The Telegraph'.
"Every player in the world who goes to the Indian Premier League says how it improves their game but what have India ever delivered?
"Since winning the 50 over World Cup on home soil in 2011 what have they done? Nothing. India are playing a white-ball game that is dated and have done for years," he added.
Vaughan expressed surprise that the Indian team management couldn’t use the talent of Rishabh Pant effectively.
"How they have not maximised someone like Rishabh Pant is incredible. In this era, put him up the top to launch it.
"I'm just staggered by how they play T20 cricket for the talent they have. They have the players, but just do not have the right process in place. They have to go for it. Why do they give the opposition bowlers the first five overs to bed in?"
He also highlighted the lack of all-rounders in the side.
"How have they only got five bowling options when you think 10 or 15 years ago all of India's top six could bowl a little bit – Sachin Tendulkar, Suresh Raina, Virender Sehwag and even Sourav Ganguly? None of the batsmen bowl so the captain has only got five options."
Vaughan also questioned India’s decision to not play wrist-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal throughout the tournament.
"We know in T20 cricket the stats tell you a team needs a spinner who can turn it both ways. India have plenty of leg-spinners. Where are they?”
After winning the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup 15 years ago, Team India have failed to live up to the expectations.
"India are so important for world cricket but for all the advantages India have, they must win more. Even in their own backyard at the 2016 World T20 they did not reach the final. They were nowhere last year," Vaughan wrote. "This time it took an outrageous innings by Virat Kohli, probably the best in T20 of all time, to beat Pakistan in the group stages. They massively underachieve for their skill levels."
According to Vaughan, nobody wants to criticise India as they fear losing work or getting "hammered" on social media.
"India have to be honest now. What happens when India arrive at a World Cup? Everyone plays them up. Nobody wants to criticise them because you get hammered on social media and pundits worry about losing work in India one day," he wrote.
"They can hide behind their great players but it is about getting a team playing the right way as a whole. Their bowling options are too few, they do not bat deep enough and lack spin tricks," he concluded.
(With PTI inputs)
