Mumbai: As the presentation ceremony was getting ready, Rohit Sharma made his mark on the winning stump at the Dubai International Stadium. Meanwhile, the stadium's sound system played ‘Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikandar,’ creating a fitting backdrop to the Indian captain's moment.

Some folks in the cricket world have added an asterisk to India’s Champions Trophy victory, claiming they had an ‘unfair advantage’ by playing all their matches at a single venue.

Could the International Cricket Council (ICC) have arranged it differently? The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), during their talks with the ICC, didn’t seem to prioritize a level playing field. They were even fine with India playing all their games in Lahore, where the pitches favored batting. There are opinions suggesting India should have faced different conditions in places like Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.

“Dubai was chosen with the agreement of both the host and the ICC,” said Subhan Ahmed, COO of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB). “Dubai is straightforward; it’s easy to manage. Other venues are available, but they can’t accommodate as many fans. Here, we can host 25,000 people, which is crucial for major matches.”

In high-stakes tournaments, ticket sales are a big deal. It’s understood that the PCB made a deal with the Emirates board, securing a flat $2 million from ticket sales for India’s games in Dubai. While the ECB didn’t want to talk numbers, a source estimates they likely earned ten times what the PCB did, thanks to India’s five-match winning streak, which attracted the largest expat community in the Emirates.

Tickets for the matches in Dubai were incredibly pricey, with the cheapest India-Pakistan match ticket costing ₹12,000. Given the huge interest in cricket, premium tickets went for a whopping ₹3.5 lakh. The ticket prices for the India-New Zealand final were about the same, with only early bird buyers getting a better deal. Aside from the India-Bangladesh match, the stands were mostly full.

Ahmed mentioned during the India-New Zealand league match, “The pricing was determined in collaboration with both the ICC and the local organizers. We were pretty sure that people would show up and be willing to pay for it.”

Once India made it to the final, non-resident Indians in London were ready to spend big on flights to Dubai, as long as they could snag a match ticket through resale. Sponsored super fans flew in to create a lively atmosphere, and corporate bookings started to surge.

Subtle reaction in Pakistan

On the flip side, the return of major cricket to Pakistan after almost 30 years – where they hosted 10 out of 15 matches – didn’t exactly create a buzz. In fact, during the tournament opener featuring the host team against New Zealand, many seats were empty in the first half. While more fans trickled in later in the day, it still highlighted a disappointing scene for ODI cricket; fans used to the T20 format weren’t keen on waiting around for eight hours of play, especially under the scorching sun.

As Pakistan's performance took a downturn, interest in the tournament plummeted in the host nation. The semi-final between New Zealand and South Africa was played in front of a half-filled crowd in Lahore, which didn’t reflect the grandeur of a major cricket event, especially compared to the excitement across the border in India.

While these visuals might not have been ideal for the PCB, they likely aren’t too concerned. A whopping 206 million viewers tuned in to watch Virat Kohli’s impressive chase against Pakistan on Indian television. Indian audiences make up 90% of ICC's revenue, and the PCB benefits with a yearly payout of $34.5 million.

“It was the second-most viewed cricket match outside of World Cups,” stated a press release from the broadcasters.

Whether the Indo-Pak rivalry was losing sheen or not, the match’s viewership was still 40 times the population of New Zealand.

Whether there is a pre-match opening ceremony or not, even if there is no all-captain’s get-together, so long as India’s Men in Blue are performing – spinning a web or swinging for sixes – public mood in India remains vibrant. Pictures of fans flashing mobile lights, scrambling for a glimpse of Rohit and Co on their return home after the win were illustrative of the lasting love for cricket in India.

Not a single journalist travelled from Australia and New Zealand to Dubai for the semi-final and the final, even as Indian media persons filled the press box.

A report from the Times in UK says The Lord’s has slashed ticket revenue estimates to the extent of 4 million pounds for June’s World Test Championship final after India failed to qualify.

The Champions Trophy 2025 was a resounding success, only because it was a big Indian party. Rohit’s team simply played to the draw and very well at that.

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