Some present and former cricketers have flatly dismissed the argument that India have an advantage over the other clubs in the Champions Trophy since they are playing all their games at one site, said Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir. But Indian pace spearhead Mohammed Shami has a different view: he admits that his team has”absolutely helped.”
Knowing the field’s attitude and circumstances have really helped us since we definitely understand them. Playing all the games at one site is a definite advantage.
After India’s semi-final victory over Australia on Tuesday in Dubai, Shami remarked, “The most important thing is to assess the circumstances and understand how the pitch behaves since you are playing at one venue and therefore you may get to know it quite well.
With eight wickets from four matches already, Shami is India’s top wicket-taker in the ongoing competition.
Critics have said that India can take advantage of the spin-friendly pitches of the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and need not travel as opponents from other countries do.
Under the Hybrid Model, the Indian team is scheduled to play all of their games in Dubai, including the upcoming final and the semifinal. Three Pakistan locations have hosted the games, not including India.
Gambhir, India head coach, was ruthless in his answer to allegations that his squad benefited unfairly.
I understand; the undeserved edge is much discussed. However, what exactly is an undue advantage? This is first and foremost as much of a level playing field for us as for any other side. On Tuesday, he told reporters, “I don’t recall in which competition we last played in this stadium.
“… we have not used here even for a day. We trained in the ICC Academy. The circumstances are absolutely opposite between here as well as there. Some people never-endingly crib. So, I feel we were not unreasonably helped,” he said.
