India’s campaign in the ongoing Champions Trophy has sparked a debate over whether playing all their matches at a single venue gives them an advantage. While captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir have dismissed such claims, veteran pacer Mohammed Shami has admitted that staying in Dubai throughout the tournament has worked in the team’s favor.
Following India’s semifinal victory over Australia in Dubai on Tuesday, Mohammed Shami acknowledged that his team has benefited from understanding the conditions at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. “It has definitely helped us because we know the conditions and the behavior of the pitch. It is a plus point that we are playing all our matches at one venue. The main thing is to gauge the conditions and understand how the pitch behaves over time,” Mohammed Shami said.
Mohammed Shami has been instrumental in India’s success so far, leading the wicket-taking charts for his team with eight dismissals in four matches. His ability to exploit the conditions effectively has been a major factor in India’s dominant run.
The debate around India’s supposed advantage stems from the tournament’s hybrid model, which has seen the Indian team play exclusively in Dubai, including their semifinal and the upcoming final. In contrast, other teams have had to play matches across multiple venues in Pakistan, leading to additional travel and adjustments to different conditions. Critics argue that India’s familiarity with the Dubai pitch, known for assisting spinners, has provided them with an edge.
However, head coach Gautam Gambhir strongly refuted these claims, calling them baseless. “I know there’s a lot of debate about the undue advantage. But what is an undue advantage? This is as much a neutral venue for us as it is for any other team. I don’t even remember the last time we played a tournament at this stadium,” GautamGambhir stated.
GautamGambhir also pointed out that India had not even trained at the stadium before the tournament. “We haven’t practiced here even for a day. We practiced at the ICC Academy, and the conditions there and here are completely different. Some people just like to complain. I feel we haven’t had any undue advantage,” he added.
As India prepares for the final, the debate is unlikely to fade. However, regardless of the venue, the team’s consistent performances suggest that their success is built on skill and execution rather than just familiarity with the conditions.
