The Champions Trophy wasn’t just a test of skill—it was a journey across continents. As the tournament wraps up, travel data shows which team endured the most miles in pursuit of glory.
Hosted by Pakistan, the event saw a unique dynamic due to India’s decision to play all its matches at a neutral venue in Dubai, avoiding travel entirely. Meanwhile, their opponents faced frequent flights and potential fatigue.
New Zealand emerged as the tournament’s most travelled team, covering a staggering 7,048 km. The Black Caps played in Karachi, Rawalpindi, Dubai, and Lahore before returning to Dubai for the final. In stark contrast, India played all their matches in one city, recording zero travel distance.
Here’s how much each team traveled during the tournament:
- 🟦 New Zealand: 7,048 km – Played in Karachi, Rawalpindi, Dubai, Lahore, then returned to Dubai for the final.
- 🟩 South Africa: 3,286 km – Took five flights for four matches across different venues.
- 🟢 Pakistan: 3,133 km – Played in Dubai, Karachi, and Rawalpindi.
- 🟡 Australia: 2,509 km – Played in Lahore, Rawalpindi, and Dubai.
- 🔴 Afghanistan: 1,200 km – Played in Karachi and Lahore.
- 🟠 Bangladesh: 1,053 km – Started in Dubai, played two matches in Rawalpindi.
- ⚪ England: 1,020 km – Played all matches in Pakistan.
- 🔵 India: 0 km – Played all matches in Dubai, avoiding travel altogether.
In the end, New Zealand didn’t just battle opponents—they battled travel fatigue, proving that in cricket, sometimes the toughest challenge isn’t on the field, but in the journey to get there.
