Aoba Tanaka 
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has stirred controversy by dubbing the Indian cricket team as one of the most underachieving sports teams globally, given their talent and resources. India’s inability to secure an ICC trophy for over a decade has fueled Vaughan’s criticism.
In a Fox Sports panel discussion during the second Test between Australia and Pakistan at the MCG, Vaughan initiated the conversation, directing a pointed question to former Australian batsman Mark Waugh. He questioned, “Do you think, in terms of cricket, India are one of the most underachieving sports teams in the world?”
Waugh, while acknowledging India’s recent struggles, deflected the question back to Vaughan. “They haven’t won much in recent times. I think they are (an underachieving side). They don’t win anything. With all the talent they have, all the skill-set, they should have achieved more,” remarked Waugh.
Despite India’s remarkable Test series victories in Australia in 2018/19 and 2020/21, Vaughan emphasized their lackluster performance in recent World Cups. While acknowledging their Test successes, he pointed out their underwhelming presence in the last few T20 World Cups.
Vaughan conceded that India is a good team with abundant talent and resources but expressed disappointment that they haven’t capitalized on these attributes to achieve greater success. He emphasized, “They’re a good team. They have got plenty of talent but with all the talent they have and the resources they have, I just don’t think they win.”
As India strives to redefine its cricketing narrative, Vaughan’s critique adds fuel to the ongoing discussions about the team’s performance and the expectations riding on them, especially in global cricket tournaments.
