India’s cup overflows after New Zealand win, but dominance could breed antipathy

When previewing the International Cricket Council’s 2025 Champions Trophy for Arab News, Azeem Rafiq felt that India started as slight favorites. As the tournament progressed, it became apparent that several factors underlined that initial assessment. India’s superiority and team cohesion was sufficient to achieve an unbeaten route to the final in which a tenacious New Zealand was narrowly beaten.

Understandably, the Indian team, officials, management and millions of fervent supporters were overjoyed. Their delight is enhanced as the Champions Trophy is now added to the T20 World Cup, secured in June 2024 when South Africa was beaten by the narrow margin of seven runs.

No doubt Indian eyes will now turn to planning victory in the 2026 T20 World Cup, to be hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka from mid-February to mid-March. If it had not been for an inspired performance by Australia in the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup, the Indian men’s team would hold a full set of ICC trophies in the short formats.

It is difficult to escape the conclusion that India and its supporters want to win every tournament, befitting their status as cricket’s powerhouse in terms of revenue generation and levels of support. Dominance by one team in any sport tends to breed ennui and antipathy — just ask supporters of other English Premier League teams their views on the dominance displayed by the two Manchester clubs and Liverpool at various times. These feelings are exacerbated if accompanied by a sense of injustice or bias and there is a danger India’s most recent success could fall into that category.

The resurrection of the Champions Trophy by the ICC and its choosing Pakistan as hosts was designed to provide a boost for cricket in the