A brief exchange between Harsha Bhogle and Michael Vaughan has reignited debate around the true health of Indian cricket.
What began as a celebratory statement quickly turned into a familiar argument about formats, priorities, and what success really means at the highest level.
Harsha Bhogle says Indian cricket is thriving
Photo by Darren Arthur-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Arthur-ICC/ICC via Getty Images
The discussion started after Harsha Bhogle laid out his case for optimism around India’s recent achievements across formats.
Bhogle wrote, “T20 World Cup champions. Women’s World Cup champions. U19 World Cup champions. World Cup runners-up. Indian cricket is in a very good place.”
The post reflected a broad view of success, one that values depth, pipeline strength, and results across men’s, women’s, and age-group cricket.
India’s trophy haul and consistent presence in finals have reinforced the idea that the system is producing talent at scale, with success not limited to one team or one format.
For many fans, Bhogle’s assessment felt accurate. India remain competitive everywhere they play and continue to dominate global tournaments outside the longest format.
Michael Vaughan questions India’s Test cricket future
Vaughan responded by narrowing the focus, challenging whether that wider success tells the full story. His reply, shared on X, was short and pointed.
He wrote, “What about Test cricket?”
The question cut straight to a long-running concern. While India have excelled in limited-overs formats, their recent Test performances have come under heavier scrutiny.
Vaughan’s response suggested that success in white-ball cricket cannot fully compensate for struggles in the format traditionally viewed as the ultimate measure of a cricketing nation.
India’s packed calendar, franchise commitments, and emphasis on shorter formats have inevitably shifted focus away from the red-ball game, a trend that concerns many former players.
Neither view is easily dismissed. Indian cricket is producing results and depth at an unmatched level, yet questions around Test consistency refuse to fade.
Vaughan’s reply did not reject Bhogle’s claim outright. It reframed it, asking whether Indian cricket can truly be in a perfect place while its Test future remains unresolved.