Hardik Pandya responds to Michael Vaughan’s India biggest underperformers remark: Don’t need to prove anything

Stand-in India captain Hardik Pandya on Wednesday responded to Michael Vaughan’s ‘India biggest underperformer’ remark, saying the Indian team does not need to prove anything to anyone but there is definite room for improvement.

Vaughan, in his column for The Telegraph, wrote that India are the most underperforming white-ball team in history and that they should swallow their pride and seek inspiration from England on how to win ICC trophies. India, under Rohit Sharma, reached the semi-final of the T20 World Cup but fell at the penultimate hurdle, losing to Buttler’s England by 10 wickets while failing to defend 178.

“India are the most underperforming white-ball team in history. I am just staggered by how they play T20 cricket for the talent they have. They have the players, but just do not have the right process in place. They have to go for it. Why do they give the opposition bowlers the first five overs to bed in?” Vaughan had written.

“Obviously when you don’t do well, people will have their opinion, which we respect. I understand people have different points of view. Being at the international level, I don’t think we need to prove anything to anyone. It’s a sport, you keep trying to get better and eventually when the result is supposed to happen it will happen. There are things we need to work on, going forward we will rectify and work on them,” Hardik told the media when he was asked about Vaughan’s remarks.

Hardik Pandya further stated on Wednesday that while the team is disappointed with their semifinal finish in the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup, they must deal with it and that the roadmap for the next edition of the tournament begins now.

The first T20 International (T20I) between India and New Zealand will be played on Friday in Wellington. Hardik will captain the team in the absence of senior players such as KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma.

“There is a disappointment of the T20 World Cup, but we are professionals. We need to cope with it the way we cope with our success and move forward, look to get better and rectify the mistakes we made,” Hardik told the media ahead of the first match.

According to Hardik, the series will be an excellent opportunity for young players to prove their worth in the team and deliver some outstanding performances.

“Main boys are not here but the talent we have… The players who are already here, have been playing for India for one and a half two years now so they have had enough time in international cricket to express themselves. very excited for them, new guys, new bunch, new energy, so it’s gonna be quite exciting,” Hardik added.