Sourav Ganguly discussed the implications of India playing in Dubai for the Champions Trophy 2025, highlighting concerns about players missing opportunities in Pakistan due to political issues. He does not believe the Dubai matches give India any undue advantage. Ganguly expressed confidence in India’s strength heading into the final against New Zealand while advocating for improvements in red-ball cricket.
Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly expressed his views on the Indian team playing their matches in Dubai for the Champions Trophy 2025, which Pakistan is hosting. He noted that Indian players are missing out on the opportunity to play in Pakistan due to political tensions. Ganguly emphasized that playing all matches in Dubai does not provide India an advantage, stating, “What’s the choice?” This arrangement is due to the Indian government prohibiting travel to Pakistan due to security concerns.
Ganguly acknowledged the disappointment of key players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shreyas Iyer, who have not had the chance to experience pitches in Karachi and Lahore. He contrasted the scoring landscape, where India’s highest score in Dubai was 267, while Pakistan saw three scores exceeding 350, including New Zealand’s historic 362 in the semifinals. Additionally, Ganguly recalled his involvement in allocating the Champions Trophy to Pakistan during his presidency at BCCI in 2020.
As India prepares for the final against New Zealand, Ganguly expressed confidence in the team’s capabilities, highlighting that while New Zealand poses a tough challenge, India possesses a stronger batting lineup and effective spin bowling, making them the favorites. He praised India’s remarkable performance in reaching the finals of three consecutive ICC events but called for improvement in red-ball cricket, a pressing need for captain Rohit Sharma’s team to address.
In conclusion, Sourav Ganguly’s insights shed light on the complexities of the current cricketing landscape concerning India’s participation in the Champions Trophy 2025. He emphasizes that the inability to play in Pakistan limits the experience of talented players, while also asserting that the Dubai venue does not confer any undue advantage. As India heads into the final, their strength in batting and spin remains a key factor in their pursuit of victory, while they need to focus on enhancing their performance in test matches.
Original Source: www.livemint.com
