India captain Rohit Sharma has rejected suggestions that his team has enjoyed an unfair advantage by playing all their ICC Champions Trophy matches in Dubai, ahead of their crucial semifinal clash against Australia on Tuesday.
India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan, the official host nation, due to ongoing political tensions meant they played all their games at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Meanwhile, other teams had to shuttle between Pakistan and Dubai, adjusting to different conditions.
The International Cricket Council (ICC), led by Jay Shah, the former secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has faced criticism for accommodating India’s preference, fueling claims of bias.
Rohit: ‘Dubai Is Not Our Home’
Addressing the controversy, Rohit dismissed the notion that India held an advantage, stating that the conditions in Dubai varied across pitches.
“There are four or five surfaces that are being used, and each has a different nature. The pitches may look the same, but they behave differently on match day,” Rohit said.
“This is not our home. This is Dubai. We don’t play many matches here. This is new for us too.”
India Seek Revenge Against Australia
India, unbeaten in the tournament, are determined to settle the score against Australia, who defeated them in both the 2023 World Cup final and the World Test Championship final.
Despite missing several frontline players, including Pat Cummins, Australia remain a formidable opponent. Stand-in skipper Steve Smith will rely on his second-string pace attack and experienced batters like Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head, the latter having tormented India in past ICC finals.
“Look, Australia have been such a great team over the years. So we expect some fightbacks and nervy moments,” Rohit admitted.
India’s Spin Strength vs Australia’s Firepower
Dubai’s conditions have favored spinners, a factor India has exploited well. In their final group-stage match, India’s four-pronged spin attack claimed nine of New Zealand’s 10 wickets, with Varun Chakravarthy shining on his tournament debut with figures of 5-42.
Against an injury-hit Australian side, India will look to capitalize on the spin-friendly conditions. However, Australia’s Adam Zampa, despite admitting he isn’t at his best, will be key to their own spin strategy.
“I don’t think I’m bowling at my best, but my strength is still being able to take big wickets,” Zampa said.
With Travis Head regaining form and Josh Inglis providing middle-order firepower, Australia remains a dangerous opponent.
A High-Stakes Clash Awaits
As India seek to avenge their recent ICC final defeats, the semifinal showdown promises to be a thrilling battle between spin mastery and Australia’s resilient approach.
With conditions set to favor slow bowlers, India’s home-away-from-home advantage could yet prove decisive—whether Rohit acknowledges it or not.
