T20 World Cup: Don’t know how India get the 'favourites' tag in T20 cricket, says Michael Vaughan

Former England captain Michael Vaughan raised questions about India's favourites tag in the ongoing T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman, saying the Virat Kohli-led side ‘has been a long way off in their last few tournaments. Vaughan further pointed out that England are the favourites to lift the T20 World Cup, which began on October 17 with the qualifying rounds.

Virat Kohli-led India will head into the T20 World Cup 2021 as one of the favourites for the title with significant firepower in their batting and bowling. India will open their campaign against Pakistan with a blockbuster clash at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai on October 24.

"England for me are the favourites. I don’t know how India get the 'favourites' tag in T20 cricket. I just think they’ve been a long way off in the last few tournaments," Vaughan told BBC Test Match Special.

"West Indies and Pakistan will be threats. I wouldn’t write off Pakistan either. New Zealand have high-class players and you know they will come up with strategies to win games.

"I’ll say it now, I don’t give Australia much chance. In T20 cricket they’ve struggled. Glenn Maxwell’s exceptional so he will have to have an incredible tournament.

“But I don’t see the Aussies doing too much. England, India, West Indies, New Zealand, one of those four and maybe Pakistan because of the conditions,” Vaughan said.

The former England captain said the pitches will play a crucial role in the outcome of the tournament.

“The pitches will be interesting because they’ve been used and slow [during the Indian Premier League]. I think 150-160 might be defendable scores,” he said.