Sourav Ganguly Discusses India’s Champions Trophy 2025 Venue and Player Opportunities
Sourav Ganguly discussed India’s participation in the Champions Trophy 2025, noting the team’s inability to play in Pakistan due to security issues. He argued that this does not give India any competitive advantage, while acknowledging players’ desires to play in Pakistan’s conditions. Ganguly remains optimistic about India’s chances against New Zealand and highlights the need for improvement in red-ball cricket.
Sourav Ganguly, the former captain of the Indian cricket team, expressed that current players are missing opportunities to play in Pakistan, particularly in light of the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, where India will contest all matches in Dubai. This decision arose as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) declined to send the team to Pakistan due to security concerns, despite Pakistan being the official host.
During a recent conclave in Kolkata, Ganguly stated, “What’s the choice? I don’t think India has agreed to play all their matches in Dubai on their will. It’s because they can’t go to Pakistan. The government of India doesn’t allow them to go to Pakistan.” He highlighted that the inability to play in Pakistan affects players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer, who would have liked to experience the challenging pitches there.
Ganguly noted that playing in Dubai does not confer any undue advantage upon India as the conditions differ greatly from those in Pakistan, recalling that while India’s highest score in Dubai was 267 against Australia, three matches in the Pakistan leg surpassed 350 runs. He reflected on his role in awarding the Champions Trophy to Pakistan in 2020, acknowledging the political realities affecting the tournament’s logistics.
As for the upcoming final against New Zealand, Ganguly considers India to be the favorite due to their batting strength, despite New Zealand’s formidable spin bowling and batting lineup. He commended India’s achievements in reaching the finals of three ICC events, yet indicated that improvements are necessary in red-ball cricket, which is an area the current team, led by Rohit Sharma, should focus on.
In summary, Sourav Ganguly emphasizes the missed opportunity for Indian players to compete in Pakistan due to security concerns, arguing this does not grant India any undue advantage in the Champions Trophy 2025. He believes India remains a strong contender against New Zealand in the final and recognizes the need for the team to strengthen its performance in the longer format of the game while celebrating their successes in white-ball competitions.
Original Source: www.livemint.com
