The long-standing, playful rivalry between former cricketers Michael Vaughan and Wasim Jaffer has flared up once again, this time sparked by India's dramatic batting collapse against South Africa in the second Test in Guwahati. Vaughan, known for his quick wit and banter on social media, seized the opportunity to take a dig at Jaffer after the Indian team were bundled out for a mere 201 in response to South Africa's imposing first innings total of 489.

The context for this latest exchange lies in the recent Ashes Test where England suffered a heavy defeat against Australia in Perth. Following England's loss, Jaffer had taken to social media to troll Vaughan with a meme referencing a Bollywood movie, needling his fellow commentator about England's performance.

Now, with India facing a similar situation in Guwahati, Vaughan saw his chance to return the favor. India surrendered a massive 288-run lead to South Africa on Day 3. He cheekily inquired on X (formerly Twitter): "Hi @WasimJaffer14.. Hows today going .. ? Left arm seamers are not easy to face ..".

Vaughan's remark alluded to the significant impact of South African left-arm fast bowler Marco Jansen, who dismantled the Indian batting lineup with a devastating spell, claiming six wickets for just 48 runs. Jansen's victims included key Indian batsmen such as Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja. His performance, along with Simon Harmer's three wickets, put India under immense pressure, leading to their first innings collapse.

The friendly banter between Vaughan and Jaffer has been a recurring feature on social media for years, with each seizing opportunities to tease the other based on their respective team's performances. Their exchanges have become popular among cricket fans, adding a light-hearted element to the intense world of international cricket.

Notably, the second Test in Guwahati is a crucial match for India, who are already trailing 0-1 in the two-match series after losing the first Test in Kolkata by 30 runs. In that match, South Africa successfully defended a target of 124 runs. The pressure is on the Indian team to bounce back and level the series, but their batting collapse in the first innings has made the task significantly more challenging.

Meanwhile, Vaughan has also been in the news recently for his criticism of the England cricket team's decision to skip pink-ball warm-ups ahead of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane. He described the move as "amateurish," questioning the logic of not utilizing the opportunity to practice with the pink ball under lights. He highlighted the importance of adjusting to the unique conditions of pink-ball cricket, especially after England's poor performance in the first Test.