India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, has rejected the idea that his team has an unfair advantage at the Champions Trophy because they are playing all their games in Dubai. He clarified that Dubai is not their ‘home ground’ and that the pitches have presented ‘varied difficulties’ for his side. Several former cricketers from Pakistan, Australia, and England have questioned why India is based in Dubai for the entire ICC tournament, suggesting it gives them a better opportunity to adapt to the conditions compared to other teams in Group A.
Rohit Sharma stated during a pre-semifinal press conference against Australia that the pitch offers different challenges each time. He pointed out that in the three matches they’ve played there, the pitch has behaved differently. He reiterated that Dubai is not their home ground, they don’t play there often, making it a new experience for them as well.
Sharma emphasized that his team needs to quickly adjust to the pitch during their semifinal match against Australia.
He mentioned that there are about four or five different surfaces being used. He admitted uncertainty about which pitch would be used for the semifinal but stressed their need to adapt to whatever surface they encounter and adjust their game accordingly.
Rohit referred to India’s recent Group A match against New Zealand to illustrate his point.
He noted that during the New Zealand bowling spell, there was some swing, which wasn’t observed in the first two matches when their bowlers were playing. He also mentioned that in the previous game, they didn’t see much spin, but on the current day, there was a bit of it.
He concluded that the pitch conditions are changing constantly, making it unpredictable and not allowing for assumptions about how it will play.
The Mumbai-born cricketer expressed that a pitch that offers some assistance to bowlers would make the game more thrilling.
He welcomed pitches that challenge both spin and seam bowlers, as they lead to a more competitive and interesting contest.
Rohit also defended the selection of five spinners in the Indian squad for the event, explaining that their decision was based on insights about Dubai pitches gained from monitoring the ILT20 played there.
He explained that considering the surface and past trends in Dubai, they anticipated slower pitches. Observing the ILT20 matches played in Dubai reinforced their belief that slower bowlers would be more effective.
He added that having Rishabh Pant as an option for an extra batter meant they could prioritize spin options, believing it would be strategically advantageous.
The 37-year-old remarked that arriving in Dubai well in advance was crucial for the team to get used to the conditions.
He highlighted the importance of quick adaptation to the conditions. He mentioned that arriving five or six days early allowed them to have effective training sessions and that the pitches at the ICC Academy closely resembled what they were experiencing in the matches.
He concluded by stating that adapting to any surface is key to success, and his team had adapted effectively in all three games they played.
