Jos Buttler takes a dig at India for only playing in Dubai

England captain Jos Buttler has taken a subtle dig at India’s advantage of playing all their matches at a single venue in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. After refusing to travel to Pakistan, the official host country, India is playing all its matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The decision has given them a significant advantage, as the conditions in Dubai have heavily favored their spin-heavy bowling attack.

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England captain calls it a 'unique tournament' but remains focused on upcoming match

When asked about India’s advantage of playing at just one venue, Buttler acknowledged the unusual nature of the tournament but dismissed any concerns about it affecting his team’s preparations. “Not really. I think it's a unique tournament already, isn't it, with being hosted here with one team playing in a different place but that's not something I'm sort of worried too much about at the moment. I've got all my focus on preparing well tonight and our game tomorrow,” said Buttler in the pre-match press conference ahead of England’s crucial fixture against Afghanistan.

India has made the most of the Dubai conditions, with their spinners playing a crucial role in their victories. Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel have taken three wickets each, while Ravindra Jadeja has chipped in with one. However, it is the fast bowlers who have been the standout performers. Mohammad Shami leads the wicket-taking charts with five scalps, followed by young pacer Harshit Rana with four wickets, and all-rounder Hardik Pandya with two wickets.

The Men in Blue have already secured a semi-final spot in the tournament after delivering dominant performances against Bangladesh and Pakistan, both by six-wicket margins. Their final group-stage match will be against New Zealand on March 2. If they reach the final, India will have played all their matches in Dubai, including the semi-final scheduled for March 4.

Meanwhile, England is preparing for a must-win clash against Afghanistan after a disappointing loss to Australia in their opening match. The Hashmatullah Shahidi-led Afghan side had shocked England in the 2023 ODI World Cup with an unexpected victory, and they will be looking to repeat the upset in the upcoming fixture. Buttler and his team will need to bring their best game to keep their tournament hopes alive as they aim for a place in the semi-finals.

With the tournament heading into its decisive stages, all eyes will be on how the remaining teams perform under pressure. While India enjoys the comfort of a single venue, teams like England must adapt to changing conditions as they fight to stay in the competition.

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