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As India power through to the semifinals of the 2025 Champions Trophy, a contentious debate over their supposed “Dubai advantage” has erupted, drawing sharp criticism from cricketing experts and players alike. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, however, has delivered a stinging rebuttal to claims by England’s Nasser Hussain and others, asserting that India would have performed even better had they played their matches in Pakistan instead of Dubai.
Controversial take on India’s matches in Dubai
The furore began when former England cricketers Hussain and Michael Atherton pointed fingers at the scheduling of the Champions Trophy, arguing that India, led by Rohit Sharma, enjoys an “undeniable advantage” by playing all their matches at a single venue—Dubai. Unlike other teams, some of whom must shuttle between Pakistan and the UAE, India’s fixed base has raised eyebrows. Current players, including England’s Jos Buttler and South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen, echoed the sentiment, suggesting that the lack of travel gives India an edge in consistency and preparation. The criticism peaked as India marched unbeaten into the semifinals, amplifying the voices questioning the tournament’s fairness.
Sourav Ganguly’s smashing counter
Speaking on the sidelines of a Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) event on Sunday, Sourav Ganguly didn’t hold back in dismantling the narrative. Far from conceding any advantage, he argued that India’s run-scoring potential has been hampered by Dubai’s conditions.
“The pitches in Pakistan are much better. India would’ve scored more runs there,” Ganguly declared, highlighting the sluggish nature of Dubai’s pitches compared to the batting-friendly surfaces in Pakistan. His retort turned the debate on its head, suggesting that India’s dominance in Dubai is a testament to their skill rather than a gift of circumstance.
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The numbers back Ganguly
Statistics from the tournament bolster Ganguly’s case. In the seven matches played across Pakistan’s three host cities—Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi—teams have averaged an impressive 34.96 runs per wicket. The conditions have yielded eight centuries and 17 fifties, with two individual scores ranking among the highest in Champions Trophy history. Notably, six out of 14 innings in Pakistan have seen teams breach the 300-run mark, underlining the batting paradise Ganguly described. In stark contrast, Dubai’s three matches have produced a modest average of 28 runs per wicket across six innings. While three centuries have been scored, the highest team total in Dubai remains India’s 249 against New Zealand—a figure dwarfed by Pakistan’s run-fests.
