Sourav Ganguly tears apart Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton over ‘unfair advantage’ allegations on India

Sourav Ganguly hits back at the former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton for their recent attack on the India National Cricket Team. Like many others, Hussain and Atherton claimed that India have an unfair advantage of playing all their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 matches in Dubai.

They also claimed that they would not be really surprised if the India National Cricket Team won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 without much stress, as they don’t have to travel from one city to another, and they would have a better understanding of Dubai's conditions.

Sourav Ganguly slams claims of India’s unfair advantage in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

However, the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has already dismissed the unwarranted claims, saying Dubai is not his team’s home ground. He also noted that the Dubai conditions have been testing the Men in Blue from the first game, and they have been different in all three games in the tournament.

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Now, former India captain and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly hit back at Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton among others by saying that the Men in Blue would have scored even more runs if they had played in Pakistan.

Notably, England's Jos Buttler and South Africa's Rassie van der Dussen had also taken a dig at India for having an unfair advantage in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

India would have scored more in Pakistan: Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times on the sidelines of a CAB event: “The pitches in Pakistan are much better. India would've scored more runs there.”

Well, the numbers prove Sourav Ganguly's claims right. In the seven matches played across three venues—Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi—in Pakistan, the conditions have been favorable for the batters. Teams have averaged 34.96 runs per wicket, with eight centuries and 17 half-centuries recorded so far in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025.

Notably, two of those centuries are now ranked among the highest individual scores in ICC Champions Trophy history. Additionally, six out of the 14 completed innings have seen teams surpass the 300-run mark, highlighting how batting-friendly the pitches have been in Pakistan.

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In stark contrast, the three matches played in Dubai have presented a much tougher challenge for batters. Teams have averaged just 28 runs per wicket in Dubai, with only three centuries scored so far. The highest total recorded in Dubai so far has been India's 249 against New Zealand.

India can beat anyone: Sourav Ganguly ahead of IND vs AUS Semifinal

Meanwhile, India will now face Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal on March 4 at Dubai International Stadium in Dubai, and Ganguly believes that the current Indian team can defeat anyone while highlighting their recent achievements in global events.

Ganguly was quoted as saying by ANI, “India won the last T20 World Cup (in 2024) and played in the final (of 50 overs in 2023). It is a very strong team in white-ball cricket, no matter who is on the opposite side. It has the capability to defeat anyone.”

Notably, the second semifinal will be played between South Africa and New Zealand on March 5 in Lahore. The Champions Trophy 2025 Final will be held on March 9.