"It's Laughable" - Ashwin Reacts To Vaughan's 'India Underachiever' Remark

Add as a preferred source on Google

Senior spinner Ravichandran Ashwin termed former England captain Michael Vaughan's claim of India being an "underachieving team" as laughable, saying they have been one of the best travelling sides in contemporary cricket.

Vaughan had recently said the Indian cricket team should have achieved more on the field, particularly in the ICC events, considering the resources at their disposal during a panel discussion in Fox Sports recently.

Vaughan's remarks came after India failed to end their ICC title drought last year after losing the WTC and ODI World Cup final to Australia.

"Here's a question for you: India, in terms of cricket, are they one of the most underachieving sports teams in the world?" Vaughan had said during the Boxing Day Test between Australia and Pakistan.

"With all the talent that they have, I think they are, yeah. 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, magnificient but the last few World Cups, been nowhere, T20 World Cups, nowhere.

"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 added.

Although he acknowledges that India have not won an ICC trophy, the spinner Ashwin reacted to the former England captain's claim of an underacheiving team by saying that doesn't hide the fact that India is one of the best travelling team in recent years.

"Michael Vaughan recently made a statement that the Indian team is underachievers. Yes, we haven't won an ICC trophy in a while, and we call ourselves the powerhouse of the game. But that's just one side of the coin," Ashwin said in his YouTube channel.

"Our Test team has been one of the best travelling teams at present. We have seen many great results. After Vaughan made that statement, so many experts from our own country started debating if India is an underachieving team. Frankly, it made me laugh."

Ashwin then went on to offer a reverse scenario for the first Test in Centurion which was won by South Africa, adding the situation may have been different had the hosts batted first on the wicket, which saw India reeling at 20/3.

"Let's reverse the situation. If South Africa had batted first after winning the toss in Centurion, wasn't there a chance they could have gotten all out by 65? "Even India was staring at the barrel at 20 for three, but Virat and Shreyas' partnership from there saved us."

Ashwin also emphasised that the series-drawing effort of India in Cape Town underlined the team's ability to bounce back from adversities.

"Quality cricket team with good mental fortitude and mental skills can make a comeback from any situation, and this Indian team has time and again proved it. Yes, we lost two WTC finals. I accept it wholeheartedly. But in the case of Test series, a comeback is always possible," he added.

Ashwin also urged the pundits to view cricket, which is considered as a religion in India, just as a sport as going into finer details makes us miss some facts.

"What we need to understand is that cricket is still a sport. In India, we talk cricket in every nook and cranny and consider the sport a religion. "I feel we criticise and nitpick too much and get into unnecessary details. I think these are blinding us," said Ashwin.

(With inputs from Agencies)