The former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has slammed former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton for questioning India’s venue advantage in the Champions Trophy 2025.
The debate surrounding India’s advantage in the Champions Trophy has taken centre stage. Former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton have voiced over India’s matches scheduled at a single venue in Dubai.
The discussion sparked a larger controversy, with Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar reacting to their comments.
He dismissed these claims and questioned the priorities of England’s Cricketing elite. Gavaskar has advised them to focus on their backyards.
“I think these are all wise and experienced people. Why don’t you actually look at why your team has not qualified? That’s what I was going to ask you, sir.”
“Rather than constantly focusing on India, are you even looking at your own backyard? Your players are in such a fragile mental state-they don’t seem to care about results as long as they meet certain expectations,” told Gavaskar.
“You must care about results. You must care for your country, for any team you play for. If you are playing for your country, the responsibility is even greater. All the time, they are moaning — ‘India has got this, India has got that.'”
“It’s constant. We must just ignore it. Let them keep moaning. We have better things to focus on. That is the kind of attitude you must have.”
India is the only team playing all its matches at the same venue in the Champions Trophy because the Indian government did not allow it to travel to Pakistan.
Hussain, Atherton and others have said it has given them a distinctive advantage over other teams who are changing venues, travelling and trying to get accustomed to different conditions.
Gavaskar highlighted India’s contribution to cricket in terms of quality and revenue and had no qualms in reminding the former cricketers that a big part of their salaries also depends on the revenue that India generate.
“As I said before, it’s not even worth commenting on. It really isn’t. They are always moaning.”
“They just cannot seem to understand where India stands in international cricket-in terms of quality, income, talent, and, more importantly, in terms of generating revenue.”
“India’s contribution to global cricket-through television rights and media revenue-plays a massive role. They need to understand that their salaries also come from what India brings to the world of cricket,” Gavaskar added.
India will play their final group stage match against New Zealand on March 02 at Dubai International Stadium.
