The former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar did not hold back in his response to criticism from Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton and other former cricketers who suggested that India had an unfair advantage in the Champions Trophy 2025 by playing all their matches in Dubai.
Little Master dismissed their concerns, stating that instead of focusing on India, they should analyse their own teams’ performances in the tournament. He also pointed out that India’s financial contributions to global cricket, through media and broadcasting rights, played a crucial role in sustaining the sport and, in turn, even supporting the critics’ own salaries.
The debate began when Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton remarked on a podcast that India enjoyed a clear home advantage. South African cricketer Rassie van der Dussen, who is currently competing in the Champions Trophy, echoed similar sentiments, emphasising that India’s lack of travel and hotel changes provided them with stability, unlike the other teams who had to split their matches between Dubai and Pakistan. He added that this scenario placed pressure on Rohit Sharma’s team to capitalise on the situation.
Sunil Gavaskar, however, dismissed the notion entirely, stating that the pitches in Dubai were not controlled by India and that travel adjustments were an inherent part of the game. He was particularly critical of those constantly bringing up India’s position in world cricket, reminding them that India’s quality, talent and revenue generation played a crucial role in the global cricketing ecosystem. He urged critics to acknowledge the substantial financial impact India had on the sport rather than continuously finding reasons to complain.
As the tournament progressed, India secured a spot in the semi-finals, while South Africa was on the verge of qualification, requiring only a narrow win or a no-result against England to advance. Meanwhile, England had already been eliminated after suffering two consecutive losses. Gavaskar took the opportunity to highlight this, questioning why former cricketers were more concerned about India’s supposed advantages rather than analysing their own teams’ shortcomings.
He pointed out that the English team appeared mentally fragile and seemed indifferent to results as long as they met other expectations. He emphasised that players should take pride in representing their country and show greater accountability for their performances. Rather than engaging in endless discussions about India, he suggested that critics should shift their focus to their own teams and let India continue concentrating on their game.
India is set to face New Zealand on Sunday, a match that will determine their final standing in the league table and their semi-final opponents. With the knockout stages approaching, the focus remains on the cricket, even as the off-field debate rages on.
