India’s Champions Trophy 2025 campaign started on a winning note with a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh. However, the most striking aspect of the match was not India’s dominant performance but the empty stands at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The sight of unoccupied seats at a game involving India, a team that typically commands full stadiums, raised concerns about the relevance and future of ODI cricket.
The match began with Bangladesh winning the toss and opting to bat first. However, their innings got off to a disastrous start as captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Soumya Sarkar were both dismissed for ducks within the first two overs.
The early collapse set the tone for a challenging outing, with India’s bowlers exerting immediate pressure. Mohammed Shami and Axar Patel led the charge, reducing Bangladesh to a precarious 35/5. Patel came close to claiming a hat-trick, but a crucial catch off Jaker Ali was dropped by Rohit Sharma, much to the disappointment of Indian fans.
While India’s bowlers dominated, the sparse crowd turnout became the primary discussion point. Social media was abuzz with speculation about ODI cricket’s declining appeal. Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi weighed in on the matter, posting on X, “Watching the @ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between #India and #Bangladesh. Stands are empty. That would not happen at an #IPL game. Is the one-day format becoming irrelevant to the fans? What’s your view? Should one-day cricket be scrapped and more Test cricket?”
This issue wasn’t confined to just the India-Bangladesh match. The tournament’s opening game between co-hosts Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi also witnessed a disappointing turnout. Former England captain Michael Vaughan openly criticized the lack of crowd engagement, writing on X, “Great to see the Champions Trophy being played in Pakistan .. First major event since 1996 .. Have they forgotten to tell the locals it’s on .. Where is the crowd ?? #ChampionsTrophy2025.”
As the match progressed, India continued to dominate. Bangladesh struggled to build partnerships, eventually managing a modest total of 228 runs. Shami was the standout performer with the ball, delivering a brilliant spell of 5/53 to dismantle the opposition’s batting lineup. In response, India chased down the target with relative ease. Shubman Gill played a composed and authoritative innings, scoring a well-paced century (101* off 129 balls) to steer India to victory with six wickets in hand and 21 balls remaining.
Despite India’s convincing win, the conversation surrounding ODI cricket’s relevance only intensified. Many pointed to Dubai’s workday schedule as a possible reason for the low turnout, suggesting that more spectators might arrive for evening matches. However, this explanation did little to change the larger perception that ODI cricket is losing its charm in comparison to the more fast-paced and commercially successful T20 format. With the Champions Trophy returning after an eight-year hiatus, the underwhelming attendance at key matches has raised questions about the tournament’s ability to remain a significant event in the international cricket calendar.
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Photo Credit: Instagram Photo of @icctrophytour
