Michael Vaughan on India’s top-order collapse: Surprising how India sometimes start with such little intent

T20 World Cup: Michael Vaughan said that he was left surprised by India’s little intent at the start of the match against South Africa. India lost to South Africa by 5 wickets on Sunday.

India lost to South Africa by 5 wickets. (AP Photo)

By India Today Web Desk: Former England captain Michael Vaughan questioned India’s intent against South Africa, saying it was surprising to see Men in Blue’s “little intent to be really aggressive with the bat” in the T20 World Cup match.

South Africa pacer Lungi Ngidi (4/29) rattled India’s top-order, reducing them to 41/3 inside seven overs. Wayne Parnell joined the party as he returned with the figures of 3/15 in his four-over quota.

“South Africa immense .. the first over set the tone .. it’s surprises how India sometimes start with such little intent to be really aggressive with the bat in T20 .. #ICCT20WorldCup2022,” Vaughan tweeted.

After a horrendous start, Suryakumar Yadav (68 off 40) lifted India to 133/9 to give the bowlers something to defend. In reply, South Africa suffered an early hiccup as Arshdeep Singh got the crucial wickets of Quinton de Kock (1) and Rilee Rossouw (0) early on.

However, South Africa’s middle-order rose to the occasion as Aiden Markram and David Miller’s fifties took the Proteas home with two balls to spare. Markram and Miller took the match deep before Miller stood tall towards the end to take South Africa on top of the group table.

“We expected the pitch to have something in it, with the weather around. We knew there will be help for the seamers. Which is why you saw that 130 was not an easy chase. I thought we fought well till the end but South Africa played well in the end,” India captain Rohit Sharma said after the match.

“The pitch is such that the wicket can come any time for the seamers. It was a match-winning partnership from Miller and Markram. But we were not good enough on the field. We have played in such conditions so conditions are not an excuse. We want to be consistent in that department. We could not hold on to our chances, we missed a few run-outs including myself.”