New Delhi: India began their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a dominant six-wicket win over Bangladesh, but the sight of empty stands at the 25,000-capacity Dubai International Cricket Stadium was unexpected. Known for drawing massive crowds and passionate support, the low turnout sparked discussions about the declining interest in ODI cricket and its future.
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and opted to bat first, but his decision quickly backfired. Both openers were dismissed for ducks within the first two overs, setting the stage for a disastrous batting collapse. India’s bowlers capitalized on the early breakthroughs, tightening their grip and reducing Bangladesh to a precarious 35/5.
Mohammed Shami and Axar Patel were relentless, with Patel coming agonizingly close to a hat-trick after Jaker Ali edged one straight to Rohit Sharma – only for the Indian captain to put it down.
Despite India’s dominant start, the sparse attendance became the biggest talking point of the match. Empty seats in an India game – an unthinkable sight in recent years – prompted speculation about the relevance of the Champions Trophy and ODI cricket.
Pakistan’s opening match against New Zealand in Karachi also witnessed a disappointing crowd turnout, drawing criticism from former England captain Michael Vaughan over the lack of fan interest.
Adding to the debate, former IPL chairman Lalit Modi questioned the relevance of the ODI format. “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?” Modi posted on X.
ICC events in the West Indies and Dubai don’t give any vibes due to empty grounds. Only SA, IND, ENG, AUS & NZ should host ICC events pic.twitter.com/kIAAvYvIo6
— Shubham (@Shubham_Msd7) February 20, 2025
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 ? #भारत…
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) February 20, 2025
Nevertheless, India enjoyed a dominant outing, with Mohammed Shami marking his return to an ICC tournament in style, delivering a superb 5/53 to dismantle Bangladesh’s batting lineup to 228.
Shubman Gill then took charge with a masterful hundred, anchoring India’s response with precision. His well-paced century (101* off 129 balls) ensured there were no hiccups, as India comfortably cruised to the target with six wickets in hand and 21 balls to spare.
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