India commenced its Champions Trophy 2025 journey with a commendable six-wicket triumph over Bangladesh; however, the match's opener was marred by a noticeable lack of spectators at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, which has a capacity of 25,000. For a team that typically enjoys full stadiums and overwhelming support, the disappointing turnout raised concerns and sparked discussions regarding the future of One Day International cricket.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and opted to bat first, a decision that proved to be a significant miscalculation. Both he and Soumya Sarkar were dismissed for zero runs within the first two overs, establishing a grim atmosphere for the batting side. India's bowlers exerted early pressure, leaving Bangladesh in a precarious position at 35 for 5.

Mohammed Shami and Axar Patel were particularly formidable, with Patel narrowly missing out on a hat-trick after Jaker Ali edged a delivery to Rohit Sharma, who unfortunately dropped the catch.

Despite India's commanding performance, the minimal attendance became the focal point of discussion during the match. The sight of empty seats at an India fixture—once unimaginable—led to speculation about the significance of the Champions Trophy and the future of ODI cricket.

Here's how fans reacted to the visuals in Dubai:

In the recent opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand held in Karachi, attendance was notably low, prompting criticism from former England captain Michael Vaughan regarding the apparent disinterest among fans. 

Lalit Modi, the former chairman of the IPL, contributed to the conversation by questioning the current appeal of the format. He remarked, “While watching the ICC Champions Trophy match between India and Bangladesh, I noticed the stands were empty. Such a scenario would be unlikely during an IPL match. Is the one-day format losing its relevance for fans? What are your thoughts? Should we consider eliminating one-day cricket in favor of more Test matches?” Modi expressed on X.

India had a commanding performance, highlighted by Mohammed Shami's impressive return to an ICC tournament, where he claimed 5 wickets for 53 runs, effectively dismantling Bangladesh's batting order, which was restricted to 228 runs.

Following this, Shubman Gill played a pivotal role, scoring a brilliant century that anchored India's innings. His innings of 101 not out off 129 deliveries was executed with great precision, allowing India to chase down the target smoothly, finishing the match with six wickets remaining and 21 balls to spare.

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