NEW DELHI: India's premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Saturday slammed former England captain Michael Vaughan. Ashwin lashed out at Vaughan after the Englishman called Team India an an 'underachieving' team, saying they have been one of the best travelling sides in contemporary cricket.
Vaughan, in a recent panel discussion on Fox Sports, had expressed his belief that the Indian cricket team, given their available resources, should have attained greater success on the field, especially in ICC events.
"They haven't won much in recent times. I think they are (an underachieving side). They don't win anything. When was the last time they won something? With all the talent they have, all the skill-set (they should have achieved more," Vaughan had said.
To this Ashwin, on his Youtube channel, decided to give an apt reply to Vaughan.
"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 traveling teams in the vicinity. We have seen many great results," Ashwin said in response.
1/10:Bumrah bamboozles Proteas as India record historic victory in Cape Town
PTI
2/10:Series-levelling victory for India
<p>Jasprit Bumrah, India's priceless fast bowling mean machine, produced a hostile spell in Cape Town to guide India to a series-levelling seven-wicket victory against South Africa in the shortest game ever played in Test history.<br /></p>Reuters
3/10:'Menacing' Bumrah
<p>Bumrah (6/61 in 13.5 overs), the master practitioner of fast bowling, knocked the stuffing out of South Africa's middle-order in a menacing morning spell.<br /></p>Getty Images
4/10:'Belligerent' century by Markram
<p>Aiden Markram (106 off 103 balls) fought like a lone ranger on a burning deck to take South Africa to 176 in 36.5 overs at the stroke of lunch on Day 2.<br /></p>Getty Images
5/10:Skipper Rohit takes India home
<p>A target of 79 even on the toughest of tracks wasn't exactly a tall order and young Yashasvi Jaiswal (28) threw his bat around before skipper Rohit Sharma (16 not out) completed the formalities in the company of Shreyas Iyer (4 not out off 6) in just 12 overs.<br /></p>PTI
6/10:India register first victory at Newlands
<p>This was India's first victory at Newlands in seven attempts and one that would be remembered for the hostility exhibited by two Indian fast bowlers – Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, who produced a career-best six-wicket haul to bowl out South Africa for 55 in the first innings.<br /></p>PTI
7/10:Rohit second skipper after Dhoni to draw a series in SA
<p>The series-levelling win gave Rohit the bragging rights of being only the second skipper after MS Dhoni (2010-11) to draw a series in the ‘Rainbow Nation'. However, South Africa remains an unconquered territory for India, who have not been able to win a Test series in the country.<br /></p>Getty Images
8/10:Shortest completed game ever in the history of Tests!
<p>It was the shortest Test match ever in terms of overs bowled, bettering the previous best that involved Australia and SA at the MCG way back in 1932. A total of 107 overs were bowled in this match while 109.2 overs were bowled in that 1932-match which Australia won. <br /></p>Reuters
9/10:Good move to bring in Mukesh in place of Shardul
<p>Playing Mukesh Kumar (4 wickets) in place of Shardul Thakur was a good move and also making the bowlers realise the ideal length to bowl after the goof up in Centurion.<br /></p>Getty Images
10/10:Markram hits 17 fours and two sixes in his century knock
<p>Sensing that he could soon run out of partners, Markram started attacking the inexperienced Mukesh Kumar (2/56 in 10 overs) and the ever-profligate Prasidh Krishna (1/27 in 4 overs). Markram found it easy to muscle the balls through the gaps as he hit 17 fours and two mighty sixes off Prasidh.<br /></p>PTI"After he said that, so many experts from our own country started questioning if India is an underachieving team. Frankly, it made me laugh. Picture yourself. Just reverse the situation. SA batted first in this Test after winning the toss. If SA 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 20/3, thanks to Virat and Shreyas' partnership from there to save us."
"So, both cricket and Test cricket are differentiated by fine margins. In a country like India, where we talk cricket in every nook and cranny and consider the sport a religion, I feel we criticize and nitpick too much and get into unnecessary details. I think these are blinding us," said Ashwin.
Ashwin also said that despite India's back-to-back losses in two World Test Championship finals, the team has performed admirably in away assignments within the longest format of the game.
"What we need to understand is that it is still a sport. The fact is that a quality cricket team with good mental fortitude and mental skills can make a comeback from wherever they are, 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."
India lost a big opportunity to win their first-ever Test series in South Africa.
They suffered a humiliating an innings and 32 runs defeat in the opening Test in Centurion and then went on to win the second Test by seven wickets to draw the two-match series 1-1.
