Courtesy: ICC/BCCI/X
Mitchell Starc, the Australian fast bowler, who is currently recovering from an ankle injury, appeared on an episode of Chin Music: Cricket show by Fanatics TV on YouTube, talking about the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy 2025. After India were crowned champions of the tournament, the 35-year-old agreed with the critics during his recent appearance about the Indians getting “undue advantage” during the course of their campaign.
Notably, India went on to defeat New Zealand by four wickets with an over to spare in the final in Dubai, to win the ICC Champions Trophy for the third-time in their history. The Men in Blue were the only team in the tournament to play all their matches at the same venue, the Dubai International Stadium in the UAE, which was something critics came heavily upon during the course of the Champions Trophy and after its conclusion.
I would tend to agree with some of the opinions: Mitchell Starc on India's "undue advantage" in CT
According to the critics, the Indian cricket team had the best possible schedule for their tournament campaign, having to play all their matches in the UAE, while most of the teams had to travel from Pakistan, to compete against them before traveling back. Mitchell Starc weighed-in on the situation, and remarked on the Chin Music: Cricket show, “New Zealand played in Dubai, had to fly back to Pakistan for the semi-final, and then, back to Dubai for the final. That’s one part of it.”
Watch the video here:
“Pakistan being the host nation, had to travel out of the host nation, to play India. Then South Africa, David Miller has come out, and obviously said about the flight situation, flying back and forth,” he added.
Following that, the left-arm fast bowler described India’s schedule, and said, “When one team gets to stay at one place with no flights, no restriction upon them in the place, plus train at the same venue every time, play every game at the same venue. I would tend to agree with some of the opinions that have come out (in regards to India getting undue advantage in Champions Trophy).”
Earlier in the same show, Mitchell Starc gave props to the Indian cricket team for being the dominant performers in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, winning the tournament while being the best side in the competition.
