Tue Mar 11 11:46:24 UTC 2025: ## Gavaskar Silences Critics, Credits Team Strength for India’s Champions Trophy Victory
**Dubai, UAE** – Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has dismissed claims that India enjoyed an unfair advantage in winning the Champions Trophy 2025, playing all matches in Dubai due to political tensions preventing travel to Pakistan. Several former and current cricketers had suggested that playing all games in a single venue gave India a significant edge.
However, in a column for Sportstar, Gavaskar refuted these accusations. He pointed out that the ICC decided on the tournament’s location well in advance and that any criticism should have been raised before the tournament began. He further countered the “home advantage” argument by highlighting England’s lack of ICC trophy wins despite hosting numerous tournaments prior to 2019.
Gavaskar instead attributed India’s success to their well-balanced team and the exceptional captaincy of Rohit Sharma. He praised the diverse contributions of various players throughout the tournament, emphasizing Sharma’s leadership in securing India’s victory. Sharma’s win marks his second ICC title as captain, placing him alongside MS Dhoni in this prestigious achievement. Gavaskar also added that Sharma has denied rumors of his impending retirement from the format.
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