Former England Captain Criticizes India’s Lack of Aggressive Leadership in Upcoming Australia Series

Michael Vaughan, the former captain of the England cricket team, has commented on India’s leadership ahead of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia in 2024-25. Vaughan’s observations were published in his column for The Telegraph, where he scrutinized the Indian team’s lack of what he describes as ‘aggressive leadership.’

The series kick-off is set for Perth, and Vaughan points out that Rohit Sharma, India’s regular captain, will not be present for the opener due to being on paternity leave. Instead, the team’s pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, will take the reins as the stand-in captain.

Vaughan reflected on India’s past successes in Australia, noting the roles played by Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane as captains, along with Ravi Shastri as head coach. He indicated that the charismatic leadership during those series provided India with an essential edge.

«When they won here in 2018-19 and 2020-21, they had Virat Kohli as captain first time, and Ajinkya Rahane for much of the second,» Vaughan wrote. «Both times, Ravi Shastri was head coach, so they had genuinely inspirational and charismatic leadership from at least one member of the axis.»

Addressing the current Indian leadership, Vaughan described Rohit Sharma as ‘laid-back’ and Jasprit Bumrah as a ‘lovely, smiley bloke.’ He implied that such characteristics might lack the tenacity needed to overcome Australia on their home turf.

Vaughan also mentioned the absence of a batter like Cheteshwar Pujara, stressing the importance of having a player who can wear down the Australian bowlers through resilient, enduring batting performances.

«They also need someone to step into Cheteshwar Pujara’s shoes,» he emphasized. «When teams have won in Australia over the past two decades, they have had a cornerstone in their batting. Someone who really grinds the bowlers down, pushing them into fourth and fifth spells.»

The absence of such a player, according to Vaughan, could pose a disadvantage to India’s ambitions of winning the series.