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Ravichandran Ashwin slams ignorant Michael Vaughan for ‘underachievers’ tag

India, a nation where cricket transcends sport and enters the realm of religion, is undeniably a breeding ground for cricketing talent. From Sachin Tendulkar’s godlike grace to Virat Kohli’s ferocious hunger, India has consistently produced players who etch their names onto the pantheon of cricketing greats. The current crop is no different, boasting a formidable bench strength that is the envy of most cricketing nations. Yet, a nagging question hangs like a monsoon cloud over Indian cricket: Why, despite such immense talent, money, and resources, has the nation failed to win a major trophy since 2013?

The stark statistics are a poignant reminder of this unfulfilled promise. Seven knockout exits in big tournaments across a decade paint a picture of inconsistency and underachievement. The most recent scar, the 2023 World Cup final loss to Australia, left Indian fans heartbroken yet again. While reaching the knockouts in itself is an accomplishment, the inability to cross the final hurdle has become a recurring nightmare.

Recently, former England skipper, Michael Vaughan labelled India as the most under-achieving team in sport for not winning big tournaments despite the abundance of talent and resources. “With all the talent that they have, I think they are serious underachievers. Well, they do not win anything. When was the last time they won something? With all the talent they have, all the skillsets They won here (Australia) twice, magnificent but in the last few World Cups, been nowhere, T20 World Cups. You go to South Africa, who are, you know, useful in Test match cricket and to produce a performance like that. I mean, with all the talent they have, and the resources they have, I do not think they win anything,” he said while commentating for Fox Cricket during the Boxing Day Test between Australia and Pakistan.

Ashwin hits back at Vaughan

In a recent YouTube video, India’s senior off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin hit back at Vaughan for his statement. Ashwin acknowledged that the team hasn’t won a big trophy for a long time but said that the Test team has been magnificent for a prolonged period of time and that they had delivered some great results in recent times.

“Michael Vaughan made a statement after the first Test that India is an underachieving team. Yes, we haven’t won ICC trophies for years. We call ourselves the powerhouses of the game. But the Test team has been one of the best teams in the vicinity. We have seen many great results”, he said.

Ashwin went on to express his disappointment with some Indian pundits who, according to him, found merit in Vaughan’s criticism instead of celebrating the team’s achievements. “After he said that, so many experts from our own country started questioning if India is an underachieving team. Frankly, it made me laugh,” he added.