Australian captain Pat Cummins, who opted out of the tournament to be with his family for the birth of his second child and to recover from an ankle injury has raised questions about unfair venue advantage to India in the Champions Trophy.
Cummins while speaking to Yahoo Sport Australia said, "It definitely gives them a big advantage. They already look like a strong team, and having all their matches at the same ground only adds to their dominance." India has been playing their matches in Dubai after deciding against travelling to Pakistan due to security reasons.
Pat Cummins "I think it's good that the tournament can go on, but obviously it does give India a huge advantage playing on the same ground. They already look very strong and they've got that obvious benefit of playing all their games there" #CT25 #Cricket
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) February 24, 2025
Reflecting on his decision to skip the Champions Trophy, he said,"It's been great to be at home during this time, and my ankle rehab is going well. I'll start running and bowling this week, and there’s a lot to look forward to with the IPL, the Test Championship, and the West Indies tour."
In Cummins' absence, Steve Smith is captaining Australia. The Aussies began their campaign with an impressive win over England in Lahore, chasing down 352, thanks to Josh Inglis’ unbeaten 120 off 86 balls. Cummins is set to return to action next month, leading SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which kicks off on March 22.
India enters Champions Trophy knockout stage
India has confirmed their place in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals after New Zealand's dominant win over Bangladesh. Before New Zealand took on Bangladesh, The Men in Blue already had one foot in the final four following their victories over Bangladesh and Pakistan in Dubai. The upcoming India vs New Zealand clash is now just a dress rehearsal for both sides ahead of the knockout rounds.