Former Indian keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik brutally schooled ex-England skippers Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain, having recalled their remark about the Men in Blue getting an unfair advantage of playing their Champions Trophy 2025 games at one venue. Karthik compared it to Pakistan, who also had the advantage of playing all their T20 World Cup 2026 matches in Sri Lanka, but still endured a poor campaign.
What Dinesh Karthik said about Pakistan’s ‘Same Venue’ advantage?
While previewing the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final between India and England, the Tamil Nadu-born former cricketer said Pakistan playing only in Sri Lanka meant they should have gone deep in the tournament instead of exiting in the Super 8 stage. He stated in a Sky Sports Podcast:
“I genuinely thought Pakistan. Purely because they consistently played in Colombo, stayed in one hotel, know the same pitches. Both you fossils said that’s one of the main reasons why India did so well in Champions Trophy. By that same accord, they should have done something in this World Cup but it works for one team and it doesn’t for other. So, there is a genuine lack of skill there. I backed Pakistan to say ‘they will fight a lot more’. But just losing most of the games and almost losing to Sri Lanka was mad. Then you hear this thing that they have been docked a penalty.”
🚨 DK COOKED MIKE ATHERTON AND NASSER HUSSAIN OVER PAKISTAN’S WC EXIT
“I expected Pak to qualify for the semis because they have played consistently in Colombo, stayed in one hotel, know the pitches well, and both you FOSSILS cried that’s one of the reasons India did so well in… pic.twitter.com/T4aP0k7aBU
— Brutal Truth (@sarkarstix) March 4, 2026
Champions Trophy controversy: When Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain accused India of having an edge
Amid Champions Trophy 2025, both Hussain and Atherton concurred that the Men in Blue have an ‘undeniable’ advantage as they have to stay only at one place. Hussain stated in the Sky Sports podcast:
“About the advantage India have in playing in Dubai, only in Dubai, which seems to me to be a hard-to-quantify advantage but an undeniable advantage…They are playing at just one venue. They do not have to travel between venues or, you know, between countries as a lot of other teams have to do.”
Atherton backed up his fellow countryman’s words, claiming that India had the convenience to pick their team only for the conditions in Dubai.
“It is an advantage. For the best team in the tournament to have that advantage…I saw a tweet the other day: Pakistan – host nation, India – home advantage. That sort of sums it up, really….They are [India] in one place. They are in one hotel. There is no travel. They are in one dressing room. They know the pitch. They picked for that pitch. When they selected, they were very smart. They probably knew what Dubai was going to be like.”
For the unversed, Pakistan secured a win only against one full-member nation in T20 World Cup 2026 despite playing only in Sri Lanka. India, meanwhile, won the Champions Trophy 2025 crown undefeated.
Also Read: IND vs ENG Semifinal: Who Has Won More ICC Knockout Battles? India or England? Full Record Inside
