India Won CT 2025 Fair & Square: Mitchell Starc on One Venue Row
The just-concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was a thrilling tournament that witnessed some nail-biting matches and thrilling finishes. The Indian cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, emerged victorious, defeating England in the final by 7 runs. However, amidst the celebrations, there was a controversy that refused to die down. Many felt that India gained an “undue advantage” by playing all their matches at the same venue, Dubai. In a recent interview, Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, who opted out of the tournament, shared his thoughts on the issue.
“I think the criticism that India got an ‘undue advantage’ is unfair,” Starc said. “They won the tournament fair and square. They were the better team, they’re a bloody good cricket team and have been across all formats for a long time.” The Australian cricketer’s words come as a refreshing change in the wake of criticism that has been raining down on the Indian team.
The Debate Continues
The debate about India playing all their matches at Dubai started gaining traction even before the tournament began. Many felt that it would give them an unfair advantage, as they would be familiar with the conditions, and the opposition would struggle to adapt. However, Starc believes that this is a simplistic view of the game.
“I think it’s easy to sit back and say that India got an advantage because they played all their matches at one venue,” Starc said. “But cricket is a game of variables, and there are so many factors that come into play. The pitch, the weather, the opposition’s strategy â all these things can affect the outcome of a match.”
The Australian cricketer also pointed out that the Indian team had to adapt to different conditions and situations throughout the tournament. “They played in the morning, they played in the evening, they played on different surfaces â they had to adapt to all these things,” Starc said. “And they did it brilliantly. They were the better team, and they deserved to win.”
Fairness of the Tournament
The Champions Trophy 2025 was a unique tournament in many ways. For the first time, the ICC experimented with a single-venue tournament, where all the matches would be played at the same stadium. The idea was to reduce travel fatigue and provide a more consistent playing surface.
However, the decision was met with criticism from many quarters. Some felt that it was unfair to have all the matches played at the same venue, while others felt that it would lead to a lack of excitement and variety.
Starc, however, believes that the tournament was a success. “I think the ICC did a great job of organizing the tournament,” he said. “The facilities at Dubai were excellent, and the fans were fantastic. It was a great atmosphere, and I think the team that won the tournament deserved to do so.”
Conclusion
Mitchell Starc’s comments are a refreshing change in the wake of criticism that has been raining down on the Indian team. He believes that India won the Champions Trophy 2025 fair and square, and that the criticism about them getting an “undue advantage” is unfair.
The Australian cricketer’s words highlight the complexity of the game of cricket, where many factors come into play. He believes that the Indian team had to adapt to different conditions and situations throughout the tournament, and that they did it brilliantly.
As the dust settles on the Champions Trophy 2025, it’s clear that India emerged victorious due to their superior team effort and strategy. The criticism about them getting an “undue advantage” is unfair, and it’s time to recognize the Indian team’s achievement for what it is â a well-deserved victory.
