India won CT 2025 fair & square: Mitchell Starc on one venue row
The recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai was marred by controversy, with some critics claiming that India got an “undue advantage” by playing all their matches at the same venue. However, one of the tournament’s top-notch bowlers, Mitchell Starc of Australia, has rubbished these claims, saying that India won the tournament “fair and square”.
Starc, who opted out of the tournament due to personal reasons, was speaking to the media when he expressed his views on India’s dominance in the tournament. “I think people are just making excuses. India was the better team, and they proved it on the field,” he said. “They’re a bloody good cricket team, and have been across all formats for a long time. You can’t take that away from them.”
Starc’s comments come in the wake of India’s convincing win in the Champions Trophy 2025, where they defeated England in the final by 8 wickets. The team’s success was largely attributed to their ability to adapt to the conditions in Dubai, where they played all their matches. However, some critics felt that this gave them an unfair advantage, as they were familiar with the conditions and could plan their strategy accordingly.
However, Starc believes that this is a false narrative. “I think people are just looking for excuses because India won. If they had won on a different pitch, they would be saying something else,” he said. “The fact is, India played well, and they deserved to win. You can’t take that away from them.”
Starc’s views are likely to resonate with many cricket fans, who saw India’s dominance in the tournament as a testament to their skill and teamwork. The team’s captain, Rohit Sharma, had earlier praised the team’s ability to adapt to the conditions in Dubai, saying that it was a major factor in their success.
“Playing all our matches in Dubai was a big advantage for us. We knew the conditions, and we could plan our strategy accordingly,” Sharma said. “But at the same time, we also made sure that we didn’t get complacent. We kept working hard, and it paid off in the end.”
Starc believes that India’s success is a reflection of their team’s strength and depth. “India has a very strong team, and they’ve been building towards this moment for a long time. They’ve got a great balance of experience and youth, and they’re a very difficult team to beat,” he said.
The Australian fast bowler also praised India’s bowling attack, saying that it was one of the best he had seen in recent times. “India’s bowling attack is very strong. They’ve got a great mix of pace and spin, and they’re able to adapt to different conditions very well,” he said.
Starc’s views are likely to be music to the ears of Indian cricket fans, who are still basking in the glory of their team’s Champions Trophy 2025 victory. However, not everyone agrees with his assessment. Some critics feel that India’s success was largely due to the conditions in Dubai, and that they may not have been able to replicate this form on other pitches.
However, Starc believes that this is a narrow view. “Cricket is a game of variables, and you can’t just focus on one aspect. India’s victory was a result of their overall performance, not just the conditions in Dubai,” he said.
In conclusion, Mitchell Starc’s comments are a testament to India’s dominance in the Champions Trophy 2025. While some critics may feel that India got an “undue advantage” by playing all their matches in Dubai, Starc believes that the team won the tournament “fair and square”. India’s success is a reflection of their team’s strength and depth, and they are a very difficult team to beat.
