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Former Australia pacer Glenn McGrath has given due credit to India for their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 title victory. In the second-half of the Champions Trophy 2025, India faced allegations of getting undue advantage of playing all of their matches in the tournament in Dubai. Former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton accused India of having an undeniable advantage in Dubai. Unfazed by verbal attacks, Team India continued their disciplined performance under Rohit Sharma’s magnificent captaincy and went on to beat quality teams Australia and New Zealand in the knockouts, to win the Champions Trophy title for the third time.
Impressed by India’s majestic performance, Glenn McGrath said Rohit and his men deserve appreciation for acclimatising to Dubai conditions exceptionally and winning the trophy. "It is the way it is. India does not travel to Pakistan anymore. There was only one other thing- the matches had to be played in Dubai," remarked McGrath as per the Times of India.
"You have to give credit to India, they played to the conditions. They know how to play on spinning tracks. I do not think that they had an unfair advantage. It is like saying there is an unfair advantage if India play all their matches in India, if Australia play all their matches in Australia," added the 55-year-old Australian.
IPL and T20 cricket has had a positive impact on one-day cricket: McGrath
Glenn McGrath also added IPL and T20 cricket played a vital role in shaping up Indian cricket. He also feels the shortest format of the sport impacted ODIs positively and India are the team who took advantage of the effect. However, McGrath also added it’s crucial to save Test cricket.
"Their IPL and T20 cricket has had a positive impact on one-day cricket. India are confident and they know their game well. It is important to protect Test cricket, but ODIs and World Cups are very important as well. India know the ODI game very well. It is a challenge for other teams to come over to India and play well. I like them to be challenged, but India are a quality team," said McGrath.
