Dubai, Mar 3 (UNI) India captain Rohit Sharma on Monday rejected suggestion that his team has enjoyed an unfair advantage by being allowed to play all their ICC Champions Trophy matches here, while other teams have had to shuttle between multiple venues across Pakistan and the UAE.
India, the only team to remain in a single location throughout the tournament, gained crucial insights into conditions at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. However, Rohit downplayed the significance of the perceived edge, insisting that the playing surfaces in Dubai have varied significantly.
“There are four or five surfaces being used, and each one has its own characteristics,” Rohit said ahead of Tuesday’s semifinal against Australia.
“The pitches might look the same, but they behave differently. You cannot assume that just because you played on one pitch yesterday, today’s surface will be identical. This is not our home, this is Dubai. We don’t play so many matches here. This is new for us too,” he told reporters on the eve of semifinal clash with Australia.
India had refused to travel to Pakistan due to strained political relations, resulting in the International Cricket Council (ICC) stationing them in Dubai.
Despite remaining unbeaten in the tournament, India face a formidable challenge against Australia. The last time the two teams met in an ICC event was in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, where Australia emerged victorious. Rohit anticipates a hard-fought contest against a team with a rich history of excelling in crunch matches.
“Australia have been such a great team over the years,” Rohit remarked. “We expect a strong fightback and some nervy moments in the middle. But that’s what knockout cricket is all about.”
India’s middle order has been reinforced by Axar Patel’s promotion to No. 5, a move that Rohit credits for adding stability and depth to the batting lineup. The all-rounder has delivered impactful performances, most notably his 42 off 61 balls against New Zealand, which proved crucial in India’s 44-run win.
“We gave Axar a clear message at the start of the England series that no matter what the situation is, he will bat at No. 5,” Rohit explained. “He has worked on his batting tremendously over the last year, and his improvement has been fantastic to watch.”
Axar’s attacking mindset was on full display during the T20 World Cup final, where his aggressive knock helped India recover from a precarious position. “He likes to take the game on and play his shots. When you are in trouble, having someone who can counter-attack is a huge advantage,” Rohit added.
Against New Zealand, Axar stitched together a crucial 98-run partnership with Shreyas Iyer (79), while Hardik Pandya chipped in with a brisk 45. India’s total of 250 proved competitive, with spinners dominating the second innings to seal a commanding victory.
“Our middle order is experienced, but getting time in the middle and putting up a fighting total was crucial,” Rohit noted. India had successfully chased targets in their first two matches, making their decision to bat first a deliberate test of their adaptability.
With the semifinal against Australia looming, Rohit reiterated the need to stay flexible, given the unpredictable nature of Dubai’s pitches. “We don’t know which pitch will be used, but whatever happens, we have to adapt quickly,” he said.
India will now look to settle scores with Australia and book a place in the Champions Trophy final, hoping to overturn the result of their last ICC knockout clash.
