India has been in solid form in the Champions Trophy 2025, but a controversy arose over the team’s alleged benefit of playing all their matches in Dubai. Some experts and opposition players, including former England captains Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton, England skipper Jos Buttler, and South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen, contended that India had an unfair advantage because other teams had to travel between two nations for their matches.
India Not Travelling To Pakistan For Champions Trophy
The Indian government never allowed the national team to play in Pakistan out of political and security reasons. Consequently, BCCI suggested a hybrid approach that resulted in Dubai being selected as the neutral place for all matches of India.
Sourav Ganguly Gives Fiery Reply
But these allegations were rubbished by former India skipper Sourav Ganguly with a quick retort. Addressing a Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) function on Sunday, he said,
“The pitches in Pakistan are much better. India would’ve scored more runs there.”
High Scoring Pitches In Pakistan
Matches played in Pakistan—throughout Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi—have witnessed teams scoring 34.96 runs per wicket, with eight centuries and 17 half-centuries scored. Two of these centuries are among the highest individual scores in Champions Trophy history. Moreover, in six out of the 14 innings played in Pakistan, teams have crossed the 300-run barrier.
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Dubai Pitches Much Slower
Conversely, Dubai has had much lower-scoring games. In three there, the average batting is as low as 28, only three centuries falling. India’s best total at Dubai was against New Zealand – 249 – the highest by six innings across the ground.
Ganguly’s assertion supports the view that the experience of playing in Dubai might not have been as positive for India as critics had contended, given that Pakistan’s pitches have turned out to be much more batsman-friendly.
