Follow UsMany experts and players have been critical of India's playing in a just venue in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has come out in defence of the Indian team, claiming that it is not their fault that they do not travel to Pakistan. Due to the longstanding political tensions between India and Pakistan, the Indian government does not allow the team to travel to the neighbouring country.
Ganguly further adds that with so much being scored in Pakistan, the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and others would feel they have missed out on 3-4 hundreds.
"What's the choice? I don't think India has agreed to play all their matches in Dubai on their will. It's because they can't go to Pakistan. It's because the government of India doesn't allow them to go to Pakistan. So it's not in India's hands. That's the way it is. And I remember I was BCCI President in 2020, and we allotted the Champions Trophy to Pakistan," Ganguly said at the Tata Steel Trailblazers sports conclave organised by RevSportz.
"And I was a part of the team that allocated all the World Cups till 2031. India will have the 2026 World Cup, the 2029 Champions Trophy, and the 2031 World Cup again. So it's not something which India has done. It's just that you can't go to Pakistan.
"And I can tell you, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer will be feeling sad they can't get to bat on those pitches in Lahore and Karachi where oppositions are scoring 350
"Oppositions are scoring 350. Australia scored 350. England scored 350. Australia chased it. New Zealand scored 360. And you look at the scores in Dubai, 240, 250. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, and Shubman Gill will be thinking, 'why don't we get those wickets in Dubai? And I get three or four hundreds.' Actually, India is missing out on flat pitches away from Pakistan."
Ganguly also reminded everyone that India travelled to different cities for every single game in the ODI World Cup in 2023 and yet reached the final. Even in their triumphant T20 World Cup 2024 campaign, India travelled to eight cities.
"India won in India, where they went around the nine cities. They went to West Indies where they went around eight cities to win the T20 World Cup. So, I don't think it's got anything to do with India staying in Dubai. It's just that what it is," said Ganguly.
"England don't go to Zimbabwe. And I remember in 2003 World Cup when I was captain, during the World Cup, India had Zimbabwe in their group and England had Zimbabwe in their group. They conceded points to Zimbabwe because they wouldn't go to Zimbabwe. So, every country has their own way of doing things and I don't think it's any fault of the Indian cricket team or the board that they haven't gone to Pakistan."
India take on New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final later today (March 9) in Dubai.