Don’t know how India are favourites to win T20 World Cup 2021: Michael Vaughan

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has raised questions over Team India’s ‘favourites’ tag in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2021. Under Virat Kohli’s leadership, the Indian side has done exceptionally well in T20I in the last few years. They even defeated England, New Zealand, and Australia in T20I series in the last couple of years. Owing to the same, many fans and experts have been backing the Men in Blue to get the glory.

However, Vaughan isn’t of the same opinion. The former England international reckoned India have been a long way off in the last few tournaments. He also feels England are the favourites to win the championship with many big names being in the ranks. Besides the Three Lions, Vaughan termed West Indies and Pakistan as threats.

India have been a long way off in the last few tournaments: Michael Vaughan

“England for me are the favourites. I don’t know how India get the ‘favourites’ tag in T20 cricket. I just think they’ve been a long way off in the last few tournaments. West Indies and Pakistan will be threats. I wouldn’t write off Pakistan either. New Zealand have high-class players and you know they will come up with strategies to win games,” Vaughan told BBC Test Match Special.

The 46-year-old further said that Glenn Maxwell would enjoy a good time in the competition. However, he didn’t back the entire Australian team to go a long way.

“I’ll say it now, I don’t give Australia much chance. In T20 cricket they’ve struggled. Glenn Maxwell’s exceptional so he will have to have an incredible tournament. But I don’t see the Aussies doing too much. England, India, West Indies, New Zealand, one of those four and maybe Pakistan because of the conditions,” he added.

Speaking of the competition further, Vaughan said the track conditions would be critical in deciding the fate of all teams. “The pitches will be interesting because they’ve been used and slow [during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021]. I think 150-160 might be defendable scores,” he said. Meanwhile, India and England recently met each other in a warm-up game. Virat Kohli’s men dominated the contest and registered a comfortable seven-wicket win.

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