"Let him sort out the England team first" - Ravi Shastri hits back at Michael Vaughan's India-centric 2024 T20 World Cup scheduling remarks
Former all-rounder Ravi Shastri has slammed Michael Vaughan for his comments on India being at the receiving end of scheduling favors during the recently concluded 2024 T20 World Cup. Vaughan, on various platforms, opined that only India having their semi-final venue fixed as Guyana was unfair to the other teams.
Rohit Sharma's Men were slated to play in the second semi-final at 8 PM IST in Guyaya irrespective of where they finished on the Super Eight table. The Men in Blue crushed defending champions England by 68 runs in the semi-final to advance to the summit clash.
In a recent interview with Times Now, Shastri hit back at Vaughan's comments on India receiving a favorable schedule by saying:
"Michael can say what he wants. Nobody in India cares. Let him sort out the England team first. He should give advice on what happened to the England team in the semifinal. India are used to lifting Cups. I know England have won twice, but India have won four times. I don't think Michael's lifted a Cup ever. So think twice. He is a colleague of mine, but that's my answer to him."
India won their second T20 World Cup title with a seven-run victory over South Africa in the grand finale.
They also became the first team to go unbeaten through the tournament while winning a T20 World Cup.
"Go and check the record books after 5 years" - Ravi Shastri on Suryakumar's controversial catch in the final
Ravi Shastri further called out those complaining about Suryakumar Yadav's iconic boundary catch that effectively sealed the final as 'sour grapes'.
With the Proteas needing 16 off the final over, David Miller was caught at the long-off boundary by an acrobatic Surya. However, questions were raised about his feet being in contact with the boundary rope with the ball in hand.
When asked about the same, Shastri responded:
"Sour grapes. And go and check the record books after five years. The name India will be engraved on it."
With the win, Team India broke their 11-year ICC title drought and became only the third side after the West Indies and England to triumph in multiple T20 World Cups.
The Asian giants emerged victorious in the inaugural edition in South Africa in 2007 under the captaincy of MS Dhoni.