England's legendary cricketer Michael Vaughan voiced his disapproval of the scheduling of the ongoing T20I series between India and Australia. He questioned the decision to have both teams play so soon after their intense World Cup 2023 campaign.
India and Australia are currently engaged in a five-match T20I series, surprisingly scheduled just days after the conclusion of the World Cup 2023. Both teams, having played in the tournament's final, were back in action within four days. Despite India fielding a completely different side in the series, Australia's squad retained several members from their World Cup team. The players appeared visibly fatigued, prompting criticism towards the governing bodies of both nations for the series' timing.
Even Australian player Mitchell Marsh expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that his team was unable to properly celebrate their World Cup victory due to the immediate preparation for the T20I series. He also highlighted the demanding nature of the World Cup and suggested that players could benefit from more time with their families before resuming international commitments.
Adding to the chorus of criticism, England cricketing great Vaughan took to his social media platform to express his views on the series. He described the scheduling as ‘ridiculous’ and said," The most ridiculous series … Non of them should have been playing.”
India have already clinched the five-match series against Australia with a commanding 3-1 lead, with the final match currently underway in Bengaluru on December 3. The young team led by Suryakumar Yadav has been nothing short of exceptional after their heartbreak in World Cup 2023 final.
Demonstrating their exceptional batting prowess in the series opener, India successfully chased down a formidable target of 209 runs, the highest ever in T20Is for the team. Maintaining their momentum, they secured a convincing 44-run victory in the second game, posting a commanding total of 235 runs and restricting Australia to 191 runs. However, Australia displayed a remarkable comeback in the third match, determined to keep the series alive. They defied expectations by chasing down a daunting target of 223 runs with five wickets in hand. Undeterred, the Men in Blue bounced back emphatically in the fourth match, overpowering Australia by 20 runs at Raipur to establish an unassailable lead in the series.
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