England opener Ben Duckett stirred a storm when he stated that he doesn’t care if his team loses 0-3 to India in the ongoing ODI series in India, as the team management is focused only on the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The visitors face India in the final ODI in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, but Duckett downplayed the significance of a potential 0-3 series defeat.

"We have come here for one thing, and that is to win the Champions Trophy. If we lose 3-0 to India, I don’t care as long as we beat them in the final of the Champions Trophy. It’ll be completely different conditions and different opposition,” Duckett told the Guardian.

Brendon McCullum's first white-ball job as England coach has been difficult, beginning with a 1-4 T20I series loss to India and continuing with defeats in the first two ODIs. England had competitive moments in both games but failed to capitalize.

"It’s about peaking at the right time. We have been close against this India side, and we have been nowhere near our best. We will always take positives. We could dwell on it, have meetings, and go at each other, but the group under Baz (McCullum) aren’t going to do that," he stated.

England will now aim for a turnaround in the Champions Trophy, with Duckett confident that the team can hit top form when it matters most.

"It’s difficult not getting results here, but hopefully, we can turn it around in Pakistan,” Duckett said.

However, Duckett’s statement that England doesn’t care about losing the ODI series 0-3 to India in the wake of the Champions Trophy went viral on social media. The backlash was intense and led to Duckett clarifying his comment on social media.

On Tuesday, February 11, Duckett quickly defused the situation, stressing that he did not suggest England was unconcerned with the three-match series against India in preparation for the Champions Trophy.

"To be clear, we want results as a team, and playing India is one of the biggest series there is! But the Champions Trophy and peaking at the right time is what we’re aiming for," Duckett posted on X.

Duckett is projected to be England's favored opener alongside Phil Salt in the Champions Trophy. England's hopes of success will rest on the kind of start the openers can provide them in the ICC event.

England is placed in Group B with Afghanistan, England, and South Africa and will play its matches in Pakistan. The Jos Buttler-led side will begin its Champions Trophy 2025 campaign on February 22 against arch-rivals Australia in Lahore.

The tournament begins in Pakistan on February 19, with India playing its matches in Dubai.