The Indian team won the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 by defeating New Zealand in the final on March 9 in Dubai. Throughout the 2025 Champions Trophy and beyond, India's decision to play all of its matches in Dubai was a hot subject. 

Australia has excellent quick bowling. Glenn McGrath has now indicated that India won because they know how to play in spinning conditions and are typically better at ODI cricket than most other teams and that playing in Dubai did not provide them with an advantage.

“It is the way it is. India does not travel to Pakistan anymore. There was only one other thing—the matches had to be played in Dubai. You have to give credit to India; they played to the conditions. They know how to play on spinning tracks. I do not think that they had an unfair advantage. It is like saying there is an unfair advantage if India plays all their matches in India, if Australia plays all their matches in Australia,” McGrath is quoted as saying by the Times of India.

The Champions Trophy, which India won after defeating New Zealand in the final, came at a time when nations were playing fewer ODIs. India has played only one ODI series since.

India played only three ODI series, each with three matches, between the World Cup final on November 19, 2023, and the start of the Champions Trophy.

One of those, against England earlier this year, was essentially a warm-up for the Champions Trophy. McGrath believes that the ODI format should be protected, and India knows how to play it better than most.

"Their IPL and T20 cricket have had a positive impact on one-day cricket. India is confident, and they know their game well. It is important to protect Test cricket, but ODIs and World Cups are very important as well. India knows the ODI game very well. It is a challenge for other teams to come over to India and play well. I like them to be challenged, but India is a quality team," said McGrath.

Indian players will now be seen in action on the IPL 2025 that begins on March 22.