India is the worst white-ball squad ever in terms of performance. Vaughan

India are the worst-performing white-ball side in history, according to former England captain Michael Vaughan, who slammed the 'Men in Blue' for playing an outmoded style of cricket in the T20 World Cup. India's effort in yet another ICC tournament ended in misery. This time, England defeated the former champions by a 10-wicket margin in the T20 World Cup semifinal in Adelaide on Thursday.

"India are the most underperforming white-ball team in history," Vaughan wrote in a Telegraph essay. "Every player in the world that attends the Indian Premier League claims that it improves their game, but India has never delivered." "What have they done since winning the 50-over World Cup on home soil in 2011?" Nothing. "India is playing an outmoded white-ball game that they have been doing for years," he continued.

The 48-year-old chastised the Indian team's management for not maximising the talents of Rishabh Pant. "It's unbelievable how they haven't maximised someone like Rishabh Pant. Put him at the top to start it in this era." I'm absolutely astounded at how they play T20 cricket given their potential. They have the players, but not the proper process in place. They must go for it. Why do they give the opposing bowlers the first five overs to get a feel for the game?"

He also emphasised the team's lack of all-rounders. "How come they only have five bowling options when all of India's top six could bowl a little bit 10 or 15 years ago - Sachin Tendulkar, Suresh Raina, Virender Sehwag, and even Sourav Ganguly?" Because none of the batters bowl, the captain is left with only five options." The decision by the team management not to play leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal also cost India.

"We know that in T20 cricket, statistics show that a team requires a spinner who can turn it both ways." India has a plethora of leg spinners. What happened to them? Vaughan inquired. In the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, India's bowlers struck a poor figure defending 169 against England, with Buttler and Alex Hales racing to the target with four overs to spare. Rohit Sharma's strategy was called into doubt by Vaughan. "They have Arshdeep Singh, a left-armer who swings it back into the right-handers." So, how do they protect 168? "They used Bhuvneshwar Kumar's bowling outswing to provide width for Jos Buttler and Alex Hales," he wrote.

"Where is the left-arm seamer in the first over swinging it in to Buttler and Hales?" Madness. Cram them together for space. Don't give them a chance to ease anxieties by getting off to a fast start in the first over. "While India is without a doubt the most popular team in the game, they have recently failed to live up to expectations." "India is vital to international cricket, but despite their advantages, they must win more games." Even in their own backyard, they did not make the final of the 2016 World T20. Last year, they were nowhere," Vaughan wrote.

"This time, it required a stunning century by Virat Kohli, arguably the greatest T20 player of all time, to defeat Pakistan in the group stages. They severely underachieve in comparison to their talent levels." Pundits are afraid to criticise India.

Vaughan believes that professionals are afraid to criticise India for fear of losing their jobs or being "hammered" on social media. "India must now be truthful. When India arrives at a World Cup, what happens? Everyone exaggerates them. "Nobody wants to criticise them because you get pounded on social media, and pundits are afraid of losing work in India one day," he said. Vaughan, on the other hand, believes that now is the "moment to tell it straight." "They can hide behind their great players, but it's about getting the complete team to play the right way. "Their bowling choices are limited, they don't bat deep enough, and they lack spin tricks."

(source : PTI)