India won CT 2025 fair & square: Mitchell Starc on one venue row
The just-concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has left many cricket enthusiasts talking, and one of the most debated topics has been India’s decision to play all their matches in Dubai. Many have argued that this gave India an “undue advantage” and affected the outcome of the tournament. However, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc has rubbished these claims, stating that India won the tournament “fair and square”.
Starc, who opted out of the tournament, spoke about the issue in a recent interview. “I don’t think it’s fair to say that India had an advantage just because they played all their matches in Dubai. They were the better team throughout the tournament, and they deserved to win it,” he said.
Starc’s comments come as a relief to Indian fans, who have been defending their team’s decision to play all their matches in Dubai. The team’s captain, Rohit Sharma, had explained the decision by saying that it would allow them to acclimatize to the conditions in Dubai, which are similar to those in the UAE, where they have had success in the past.
However, many critics have argued that playing all their matches in one venue gave India an unfair advantage. They pointed out that the team could familiarize themselves with the pitch and weather conditions, which would give them an edge over their opponents.
Starc, however, disagrees with this assessment. “I don’t think it’s fair to say that India had an advantage just because they played all their matches in Dubai. They were the better team throughout the tournament, and they deserved to win it,” he said.
The Australian fast bowler also praised India’s team, saying that they are a “bloody good cricket team” who have been performing well across all formats for a long time. “They have a great team culture, and they know how to get the job done. They’re a very clinical team, and they didn’t give away many chances throughout the tournament,” he said.
Starc’s comments have been welcomed by Indian fans, who have been celebrating their team’s victory in the Champions Trophy. The team’s win has capped off a remarkable year for Indian cricket, which has seen them dominate the Test rankings and perform well in limited-overs cricket as well.
The decision to play all matches in Dubai has also been defended by the ICC, which has said that the tournament was designed to be played in a centralized venue to minimize travel and allow teams to focus on cricket. The ICC has also pointed out that teams were given the opportunity to acclimatize to the conditions in Dubai before the tournament began, which would have helped to level the playing field.
In conclusion, Mitchell Starc’s comments have brought some much-needed perspective to the debate surrounding India’s decision to play all their matches in Dubai. While some may argue that this gave India an unfair advantage, Starc’s assessment that India won the tournament “fair and square” is hard to dispute. The Indian team’s performance throughout the tournament was outstanding, and they deserved to win the Champions Trophy.
