Michael Vaughan calls pitch ‘unfair’ after India’s 255 blitz in T20 World Cup final

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has criticised the pitch conditions after India national cricket team piled up a record-breaking 255/5 against New Zealand national cricket team in the final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Vaughan praised the Indian batting performance but argued that the surface offered an unfair advantage to batters, leaving bowlers with little chance to compete.

Record-Breaking Total in T20 World Cup Final

India produced a spectacular batting display to post 255/5, the highest total ever recorded in a final of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

The massive score came against New Zealand national cricket team after the Black Caps opted to bowl first. However, the match quickly turned into a batting spectacle as Indian players dominated the bowling attack from the start.

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan reacted to the innings on social media, praising the stroke play but questioning the balance of the pitch.

“Fantastic striking… but let’s be honest this isn’t a fair balance between bat and ball,” Vaughan wrote.

Flying Start from Samson and Abhishek

India’s explosive start was driven by openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma.

The pair stitched together a blistering 98-run partnership in just 43 balls, putting the New Zealand bowlers under immense pressure.

Abhishek Sharma played a particularly aggressive innings, reaching his half-century in just 18 deliveries. He eventually scored 52 off 21 balls before being dismissed by Rachin Ravindra.

By the end of the powerplay, India had already raced to 92/0, the highest powerplay total ever recorded in a T20 World Cup match.

Samson Leads the Charge

Captain Sanju Samson continued the onslaught after the powerplay, hammering the New Zealand attack with ease.

He smashed 89 runs, including eight sixes and five boundaries, dominating bowlers such as Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry.

Samson’s innings also marked his third consecutive half-century in the tournament, cementing his role as India’s leading batter in the competition.

Kishan Keeps the Momentum Going

Following Abhishek’s dismissal, Ishan Kishan ensured that India’s scoring rate remained relentless.

Kishan blasted 54 off 25 balls, hitting four sixes and four boundaries. He shared a 105-run partnership with Samson, pushing India beyond the 200-run mark with several overs still remaining.

Late Breakthrough for New Zealand

New Zealand finally found some relief in the 16th over when Jimmy Neesham struck three times in quick succession.

Neesham dismissed Samson, Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav to briefly halt India’s charge.

However, the respite was short-lived.

Dube’s Late Blitz

All-rounder Shivam Dube delivered a powerful finish to the innings, smashing 26 runs off just eight balls.

His late assault ensured India crossed the 250-run mark, setting a daunting target for New Zealand in the final.

Pitch Debate Continues

While fans celebrated India’s remarkable batting performance, the pitch conditions quickly became a topic of debate.

The red-and-black soil surface reportedly offered little swing, seam movement, or spin, making it extremely difficult for bowlers to contain the batters.

Except for Mitchell Santner, who conceded 33 runs in four overs, most New Zealand bowlers leaked runs at over 11.5 runs per over.

Critics like Vaughan argue that such batting-friendly conditions raise concerns about maintaining a fair balance between bat and ball in major tournament finals.

New Zealand Face Record Chase

With 255 runs required for victory, New Zealand national cricket team now faces one of the toughest chases in T20 World Cup history.

Whether the Black Caps can respond with an equally explosive batting performance remains to be seen as the final heads toward a thrilling conclusion.