Not playing in Pakistan is something that the Indian batters are missing out on, felt former India captain Sourav Ganguly. The former cricketer’s comments came on the recent debate on the Indian team, who are being said to have taken ‘undue advantage’ by playing all their Champions Trophy 2025 matches at a single venue in Dubai.
Despite Pakistan being the hosts of the Champions Trophy 2025, Dubai was allotted as the venue for the India matches after the BCCI refused to send its team across the border due to security issues. For Sourav Ganguly, playing all the games in Dubai doesn’t give India any undue advantage
“What’s the choice?” asked Sourav Ganguly on Saturday at the Revsportz conclave in Kolkata when asked about the single-venue row. “I don’t think India has agreed to play all their matches in Dubai on their will. It’s because they cant go to Pakistan, the government of India doesn’t allow them to go to Pakistan.
Due to political tensions between the two countries, both India and Pakistan haven’t played a single bilateral series since 2012. As a result, none of the currently generation of players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, etc got a chance to play in Pakistan.
“I am sure that the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer will feel sad that they can’t bat on those pitches in Karachi and Lahore where the opposition are scoring 350 runs. I don’t think there is any undue advantage at play here,” added the former BCCI president.
While the highest score in Dubai was India’s 267/6 against Australia, as many as three scores of 350-plus were recorded in the Pakistan leg. In fact, New Zealand’s 362/6 against South Africa in the semifinal was the highest team score ever in the history of the Champions Trophy 2025.
The 51-year-old also recalled the time when the Champions Trophy 2025 was allocated to Pakistan. “I remember, I was the BCCI president in 2020 when the Champions Trophy was allotted to Pakistan. I was a part of that team that allocated all the World Cups till 2031,” he added.
India are the favourites: Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly, under whom India finished runners-up in the Champions Trophy in 2000 and became joint-winners in 2002, felt India will have the edge in Sunday’s final against New Zealand.
“New Zealand are probably the toughest opposition for India at the moment. Their batting and spin bowling are formidable. But I think India’s batting is stronger. We also have formidable spinners. India are the favourites,” he stated.
Praising India’s performance in white-ball cricket, Sourav Ganguly said it’s phenomenal to reach the final of three ICC events — the 2023 50-over World Cup, the 2024 T20 World Cup, and the ongoing Champions Trophy. “It’s an incredible achievement. How many teams do that? But I think in red-ball cricket, the team has to do better. That’s something Rohit’s team has to address,” he said.
