According to the Indian captain, despite playing on the same ground, they face a different challenge in each match.
There has been intense debate about India’s advantage in the Champions Trophy. Ahead of the semi-finals, the issue was raised during Rohit Sharma’s press conference. The Indian captain brushed aside any claims of gaining extra benefits from playing at the same venue, stating that they face a different challenge in every match in Dubai.
This year’s Champions Trophy, held in Pakistan and the UAE, saw every team except India playing at various venues. Australia’s journey to the semi-finals involved traveling to three of the four tournament venues.
New Zealand, another semi-finalist, has traveled to all four venues. Meanwhile, South Africa, who will face New Zealand in the semi-final, never played in Dubai but still had to travel due to uncertainty around the venue for the final.
Both teams will return to Lahore after playing in Dubai for their respective semi-finals, and the final venue remains undecided. If India reaches the final, it will be held in Dubai. If India is eliminated, the title match will take place in Lahore.
While other teams have had to travel between cities and venues, India has had the advantage of playing in the same city, staying at the same hotel, and playing at the same ground. This has sparked debate, with former cricketers like Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton commenting on the significant advantage.
On Tuesday, India will face Australia in the first semi-final in Dubai. During a press conference the day before, Rohit denied claims of receiving any extra benefit from the venue.
“It’s not like we know how the pitch will behave. We don’t know which pitch will be used in the semi-finals. But whatever it is, we have to adapt and see how it behaves. And this is not our home ground—this is Dubai. We don’t play here often, so it’s a new experience for us too,” said Rohit.
The Indian captain and star opener also highlighted the challenges they have faced in Dubai.
“In the three matches we’ve played, the nature of the ground was the same, but the pitch behaved differently in each match. Against New Zealand, when their pacers bowled, they got swing and seam movement, which our bowlers didn’t get in the previous matches. It gets a little cooler in the evening, which can cause the ball to swing,” Rohit explained.
“We don’t know how every wicket will behave. They may look the same, but they play differently. The pitch throws up different challenges, and as a batsman, we have to think about whether we can play certain shots. The bowlers also need to adjust accordingly.”
