The rapid bowler of the Mitchell Starc Australia in Australia opened on the criticism of India at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 ICC Champions. Starc agreed that the Tim, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, had a significant advantage by playing all its matches in one place, at the International Cricket Stadium in Dubai.
India played all their matches in Dubai, while other teams competed in Pakistan and had to travel to Dubai for matches against India. Critics claimed that India gave an unfair advantage because they were already familiar with playing conditions and did not have to deal with travel, unlike other teams.
I would like to agree with some opinions – Mitchell Starc
The debate on the benefits of India in the champion trophy caused strong opinions on both sides. While fans and experts criticized the advantage, the Indian camp firmly defended their position.
Speaking on the Fanatics TV YouTube channel, Mitchell Starc stated that India did not face logistics challenges. He added that they trained in the same place and played every match under the known conditions. Starc said he understood the frustrations of the other seven teams and some emitters.
“When one team has to stay in one place, without flights, without restriction on them, train in the same place every time, playing every game in the same place, I would tend to agree with some of the opinions that came out. I can understand where many guys from the other seven teams and some opinions at Stars are.
They are a bloody good cricket team – Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc emphasized that India has taken on the tournament quite despite the criticism. He stated that India proved that they were a better team in all formats.
Men in Blue have lost only one match in the last three events with ICC white ball, including their undefeated World 2024 World Cup, where they won seven consecutive games and asked for a title.
“A lot was done on the subject. Obviously India tried to push it aside and say that it was a neutral place, but there was a lot to get out of the tournament during and the post. India won a fair and square, they were a better team, they were a bloody good cricket and they were in all formats for a long time,” Starc said in the same interview.
India won 23 of its last 25 matches in the last three ICC tournaments
India ended the tournament undefeated in the champion trophy. They won all their group matches against New Zealand, Bangladesh and Pakistan before defeating Australia and in the finals in the semifinals and New Zealand.
New Zealand covered almost 7,000 kilometers throughout the tournament. They played India in Dubai on March 2, they traveled to Lahore on the semifinals against Pakistan on March 5, and then returned to Dubai for the finals.
The recent ICC ICC record was exceptional, winning 23 of their last 25 matches in the last three tournaments. They only suffered one defeat, and one match ended with no result. India will host the T20 World Cup next year.
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