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The Champions Trophy 2025 has sparked controversy after former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton questioned what they called India’s “undeniable advantage” in the tournament. The discussion initially started when Pakistan’s interim coach Aaqib Javed briefly mentioned it after their defeat to India in Dubai. However, it was the debate led by Hussain and Atherton that truly ignited a heated discussion in the cricketing world.
Since then, Australia’s injured captain Pat Cummins and South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen have echoed similar sentiments, calling the scheduling of the tournament a “huge advantage to India.” However, the response from Indian cricketing legends has been sharp, with Sunil Gavaskar and Wasim Jaffer taking a firm stand against these criticisms.
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Jaffer and Gavaskar Hit Back at Critics
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer took a cheeky dig at critics by sarcastically suggesting that India should have changed hotels in Dubai to silence complaints. However, it was Sunil Gavaskar who launched a stronger counterattack, urging the former England captains to “focus on their own backyard” instead of constantly pointing fingers at India.
Gavaskar, speaking to India Today, criticized England’s performance in the tournament and questioned why Hussain and Atherton were not analyzing their own team’s failures.
“Why don’t you actually look at why your team has not qualified? That’s what I was going to ask you, sir. Rather than constantly focusing on India, are you even looking at your own backyard? Your players are in such a fragile mental state—they don’t seem to care about results as long as they meet certain expectations.”
Gavaskar further emphasized the importance of playing for the country with pride and responsibility instead of finding excuses.
“All the time, they are moaning—‘India has got this, India has got that.’ It’s constant. We must just ignore it. Let them keep mourning. We have better things to focus on. That is the kind of attitude you must have.”
‘Your Salaries Depend on India’s Earnings’: Gavaskar’s Scathing Remark
The primary argument against India is that they are the only team playing all their matches in one venue (Dubai) due to their government’s decision not to travel to Pakistan. Hussain, Atherton, and others claim that this has given them a distinct advantage, unlike other teams who have had to travel between venues and adjust to different conditions.
However, Gavaskar called out the hypocrisy, pointing out that England themselves played both their matches at the same venue (Lahore) before traveling to Karachi for their final group-stage game. He also noted that teams like Australia and Afghanistan played two out of their three group matches at the same venue. Singling out India for a scheduling decision beyond their control made no sense.
Additionally, Gavaskar reminded the former cricketers of India’s enormous contribution to world cricket—both in terms of quality and revenue generation.
“They are always moaning. They just cannot seem to understand where India stands in international cricket—in terms of quality, income, talent, and, more importantly, in terms of generating revenue. India’s contribution to global cricket—through television rights and media revenue—plays a massive role. They need to understand that their salaries also come from what India brings to the world of cricket.”
Conclusion
While India’s scheduling in the Champions Trophy 2025 has become a topic of debate, the response from Indian cricketing legends like Sunil Gavaskar and Wasim Jaffer has made it clear that the criticism is misplaced. Instead of focusing on India’s supposed advantages, teams should look at their own performances and strive to improve.
With the tournament heating up, India remains focused on their ultimate goal—winning the Champions Trophy—regardless of the outside noise.
