Mohammed Shami’s recent remarks on India’s venue advantage in the Champions Trophy 2025 have sparked fresh debate, contrasting the views of captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir. While both Rohit and Gambhir have dismissed claims of India benefiting from playing all their matches at one venue, Shami acknowledged that staying in one city has worked in India’s favour.
Speaking after India’s semi-final victory against Australia on Tuesday (March 4) in Dubai, Shami admitted that playing all their matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium has helped the team adapt better to the pitch and conditions.
“It is definitely an advantage to play at one venue. You understand the conditions and pitch behaviour much better. It has helped us a lot,” Shami said after his impressive performance.
What did Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir say about venue advantage?
The critics have argued that India has been able to take advantage of spin-friendly conditions in Dubai and they don’t have to travel either unlike other participants.
Rohit Sharma rubbished the advantage claims, stating, “This is not our home. We don’t play regularly in Dubai. These conditions are new for us too.”
Coach Gautam Gambhir echoed Rohit’s views, said, ““I know, there’s a lot of debate about the undue advantage. But what is an undue advantage? First of all, this is as much of a neutral venue for us as it is for any other team. I don’t remember which tournament we played in this stadium last time,”
He added, “We haven’t practiced here even for a day. We practiced in the ICC Academy. The conditions there and here are 180 degrees different. Some people are just perpetual cribbers. So, I feel we didn’t have any undue advantage,”
Kane Williamson dismisses concerns over India’s advantage
India will face New Zealand in the final on March 9 in Dubai their fifth consecutive game at the same venue while the Kiwis will be playing their second match at the stadium, having lost to India in the group stages by 44 runs.
After beating South Africa by 50 runs in an action-packed semi-final on March 5 Kane Williamson has dismissed concerns over India’s advantage of having played all their matches in Dubai, stating that such factors are “part and parcel of the game.”
He said, “Yeah definitely the conditions are a lot different but you know that’s sort of the nature of the beast I think in any tournament that you have, conditions change a little bit throughout. For us, it was nice to have that last match against India. There’s some really good bits there. India are an outstanding team and playing really well. So, look, it’s important we try and take away some learnings from that last game. Park this match, and in a final, anything can happen. And it was a great atmosphere last game and I’m sure it’ll be a good one again,”
