‘Clueless’ India hammered at home after T20 World Cup ‘humiliation’

Published November 11, 2022
India’s Captain Rohit Sharma (L) escorts his team off the field after their defeat during the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup 2022 semi-final cricket match between England and India at The Adelaide Oval, Australia on November 10. — AFP
India’s Captain Rohit Sharma (L) escorts his team off the field after their defeat during the ICC men’s Twenty20 World Cup 2022 semi-final cricket match between England and India at The Adelaide Oval, Australia on November 10. — AFP

Local media, fans and former cricketers did not hold back after India were dumped out of the Twenty20 World Cup on Thursday, with Rohit Sharma’s side labelled “clueless” and “out of their depth” following the 10-wicket defeat by England.

England openers Alex Hales (86) and skipper Jos Buttler (80) chased down 169 for victory with four overs to spare, prolonging India’s hunt for a second title to add to their victory in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007.

“India clueless with the ball. Hales and Buttler too good for this Indian attack,” former opening batsman Virender Sehwag wrote on Twitter.

The Times of India newspaper said the defeat would not be forgotten easily. “This humiliation will rankle for years,” it added. An editorial in the Indian Express website ran with the headline: “Why old-school Team India is out of depth in the modern game.”

Fans of the Indian team reacted with dismay, with Anand Mahindra, chairman of Indian conglomerate Mahindra Group, tweeting that the “manner of losing” hurt more than the defeat.

“Decided to watch some cricket after ages. Regretting the decision,” said Twitter user Pawan Khera, a member of India’s Congress party.

Writing in his column for the Daily Telegraph, ex-England skipper Michael Vaughan said India’s limited overs record was poor.

“India are the most under-performing white-ball team in history,” Vaughan wrote.

“Every player in the world who goes to the Indian Premier League says how it improves their game but what have India ever delivered?”

England’s former limited overs captain Eoin Morgan told Sky Sports that the match was like “a big boxing bout but at two different weight divisions”, while Nasser Hussain said India were “way too timid” in his Daily Mail column.

Opinion

Trouble at home

Trouble at home

The country’s strength lies in its political and economic stability, not in fleeting moments of diplomatic success.

Editorial

Pezeshkian’s visit
Updated 24 Jun, 2026

Pezeshkian’s visit

Perhaps a good place to start would be the resumption of work on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline.
Telecom bill
24 Jun, 2026

Telecom bill

THERE is now no question about it: the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) (Amendment) Bill of 2026 is a...
Updating Islamabad
24 Jun, 2026

Updating Islamabad

ISLAMABAD is growing rapidly. Its planning, however, remains stuck in bureaucratic limbo. Despite years of ...
Unsustainable growth
Updated 23 Jun, 2026

Unsustainable growth

CLICHÉS are an essential part of political rhetoric. But when repeated often, they lose their impact. So when...
Banned speeches
23 Jun, 2026

Banned speeches

NATIONAL Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Sunday formally lifted long-standing restrictions on the airing of ...
New GB government
23 Jun, 2026

New GB government

WITH the newly elected lawmakers of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly taking oath on Monday, the PPP looks set to head...