New Delhi: On one hand, they are being praised for their stupendous performance in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025 and on the other hand, Team India is facing criticism for gaining undue advantage from the International Cricket Council (ICC). After beginning their CT 2025 in style with a convincing win over Bangladesh, the Men in Blue thrashed arch-rivals Pakistan in the battle of heavyweights on Sunday, confirming their place in the semifinals of the event.
While India have just a single group match remaining against New Zealand on March 2 before playing the knockouts, former English players Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain have accused the Rohit Sharma-led side of having a clear advantage over the other teams in the showpiece event. Both Atherton and Hussain believe that Team India are in a ‘comfortable cocoon’ where they aren’t supposed to travel like the other units and stay in the same hotel. This also helping them know the pitch better.
Hybrid model an advantage for India?
As part of the hybrid model approved by the ICC, India will play all their matches at the Dubai International Stadium and are not supposed to travel from Pakistan to Dubai like their opponents. After the Indian government barred the team from travelling to Pakistan due to long-standing political tensions between the two countries, the global governing body ICC had to make alternate arrangements and chose Dubai as the venue for all the Team India games.
After playing Bangladesh and Pakistan in their opening two matches in Dubai, India will take on New Zealand in their last league game and then also play the semifinals in Dubai. If the Men in Blue storm into the finals, the marquee clash will be played in Dubai and the other team will have to travel from Pakistan.
Atherton believes that not having to travel, being in the same city and playing in similar conditions is a certain advantage that Indi have. Hussain, in an interaction on Sky Sports, has also echoed the same remarks, calling it an undeniable advantage over lot of other teams. The English duo believe that by the time India finish their group matches, they will be more acclimatised to the conditions for the knockout game and the summit clash.
They also said that India have been very smart in their selection as they knew what Dubai was going to be like and that’s the reason why they have picked three spinners and not an extra pacer.
Champions Trophy 2025: After beating Bangladesh and arch-rivals Pakistan in their first two league games, India now face New Zealand in the Group A encounter on Sunday in Dubai. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
