During India's journey to the semifinals of the 2025 Champions Trophy, the team faced criticism from analysts and some competitors who argued that Rohit Sharma and his squad enjoyed an "undeniable advantage" by playing all their matches at a single location—Dubai. In response, former India captain Sourav Ganguly countered these assertions, suggesting that India would have achieved higher scores had they competed in Pakistan.

The controversy arose after former England players Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton criticized the Indian team for benefiting from the convenience of playing in Dubai, unlike other teams that had to travel between two countries for their matches. Current players, including England captain Jos Buttler and South African batsman Rassie van der Dussen, echoed similar sentiments.

It is important to note that the Indian government prohibited the national team from travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy due to political and security concerns. Consequently, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) proposed a hybrid model, designating Dubai as the neutral venue for all matches.

In a strong rebuttal to the criticism, Ganguly stated on Sunday during a CAB event, "The pitches in Pakistan are much better. India would've scored more runs there."

Comparing pitches in Dubai and Pakistan

Ganguly's assessment is indeed accurate. In the seven matches conducted in Pakistan across the cities of Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi, teams have achieved an average score of 34.96, which includes eight centuries and 17 fifties. Notably, two of these centuries rank among the highest individual scores in the history of the Champions Trophy. Furthermore, in six out of the 14 innings played, teams have surpassed the 300-run mark.

In contrast, during the three matches held in Dubai, teams have only managed an average of 28, with three centuries recorded. Additionally, India's total of 249 against New Zealand stands as the highest team score among the six innings played.

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