Amid the ongoing discussions about India possibly enjoying a home-field advantage by playing all their matches in Dubai during the Champions Trophy 2025, the Australian captain remains uncertain whether this truly benefits India ahead of tomorrow’s semi-final.
“India has indeed played all their games here, so they are familiar with how the pitch behaves. I can’t say for certain if it gives them an edge. The entire square is quite dry, and we have observed how the wickets perform,” Smith noted at the pre-match press briefing.
The Australian team arrived in Dubai following their final group-stage match against Afghanistan, which ended up being canceled due to weather conditions. They faced potential travel back to Pakistan had India lost against New Zealand.
However, Smith viewed this situation as advantageous.
“It has been beneficial to be here and take advantage of a couple of days for preparation. Had we waited for last night’s outcome before traveling, we would have flown in today and had to play tomorrow without any practice on this surface or acclimating to conditions available at the academy,” he mentioned.
Smith acknowledged that his team felt the absence of key fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood—who were sidelined from the tournament—but emphasized that other players stepped up effectively.
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“We certainly miss our frontline bowlers who have substantial experience. Nevertheless, we have several players who have performed well thus far; it’s valuable exposure for them to compete in an international championship,” he concluded.
“And I think they have handled themselves nicely. So, yeah, hopefully, another good show from the guys tomorrow, and we can get into another final,” he subsequently said.
Smith anticipates that the advice gleaned from his in-depth background would empower him to lead an inexperienced side towards the final of the Champions Trophy set for 2025. But with the struggle between Australia and India recently ending with a loss at the ODI World Cup finals and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, India will come to prove a point against the Aussies.
