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Team India’s dominant run in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has sparked criticism from several former and current international cricketers, who claim that the Men in Blue have enjoyed an unfair advantage due to their single-venue schedule in Dubai.
However, veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has dismissed these allegations, slamming the critics for undermining India’s performances.
Table of content
- 1 India Accused of Having a ‘Dubai Advantage’
- 2 Ashwin’s Response: “Tournaments Are Won by Performances, Not Excuses”
- 3 India in the Final Because of ‘Solid Cricket’
- 4 Ashwin’s Reminder: India Faced Tougher Scheduling in 2023 World Cup
- 5 India Eyes Back-to-Back Champions Trophy Titles
- 6 Share this:
- 7 Like this:
- 8 Related
India Accused of Having a ‘Dubai Advantage’
Former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton were among the first to raise concerns, stating that India’s familiarity with Dubai’s conditions and lack of travel gave them an “undeniable advantage.”
Current cricketers like Jos Buttler, David Miller, and Rassie van der Dussen also voiced their frustrations, questioning the fairness of the tournament’s scheduling.
Ashwin’s Response: “Tournaments Are Won by Performances, Not Excuses”
Ahead of India’s Champions Trophy final clash against New Zealand on March 9, Ashwin hit back at the critics on his Hindi YouTube show, “Ash Ki Baat,” emphasizing that India’s success is purely based on performance.
“Tournaments are won on the basis of performances, not excuses. I am laughing when people ask our captain and coach the same question about having an advantage playing in Dubai,” Ashwin remarked.
The off-spinner further pointed out that South Africa had a similar advantage in the 2009 Champions Trophy, playing all their matches at the same venue, yet they failed to qualify for the knockouts.
“It was not South Africa’s fault that they didn’t qualify then. Teams qualify because they play good cricket,” he added.
India in the Final Because of ‘Solid Cricket’
Ashwin urged fans to ignore the “single-venue advantage” narrative and appreciate India’s performances.
“India is in the final because they have played solid cricket. No matter what happens in the final, they deserved to be finalists because of the kind of cricket they have played.
Please don’t throw mud at our own cricketers because of someone else’s narrative.”
Taking a dig at foreign teams that often criticize Indian conditions, Ashwin said:
“I know a Test team that travels to India, loses the series, and then blames it on the pitches. Imagine an Indian cricketer coming out and saying such things if we lost a series overseas. We never do that.”
Ashwin’s Reminder: India Faced Tougher Scheduling in 2023 World Cup
Ashwin also pointed out that during the 2023 ODI World Cup, India had to travel across nine different venues, yet they did not complain about fatigue or unfair conditions.
“In the 2023 World Cup, we played at nine different venues. I was with the team, I traveled with the team. I agree with David Miller that a one-and-a-half-hour flight does increase lactic acid in your body. But you must understand it is not in the Indian team’s hands. The ICC has made the fixtures.
This schedule was decided even before an Indian became ICC chief.”
India Eyes Back-to-Back Champions Trophy Titles
India, currently on an unbeaten streak in the tournament, will face New Zealand in the final on March 9 in Dubai. If they win, it will be their second consecutive Champions Trophy title, solidifying their dominance in ICC tournaments.
Ashwin urged fans to support Team India instead of engaging in baseless narratives.
“If India wins this trophy, we will be winning the title back-to-back. Let’s celebrate them. Don’t buy into this narrative.”
