Gautam Gambhir has given a big statement after defeating Australia in the semi-final match.
Team India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has given a befitting reply to all those critics who are saying that India is getting an advantage by playing in Dubai. After winning the first semi-final of the Champions Trophy 2025, Gautam Gambhir said that the Indian team is not getting any unfair advantage by playing in Dubai. Gambhir also made it clear that the Indian team has not done any net session on this ground since arriving here for the Champions Trophy.
Head coach’s statement on the benefits being received in Dubai
The Indian team played all the matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and won all the matches to make it to the final of the Champions Trophy. Gambhir said in a press conference after the four-wicket win in the semi-final against Australia, “I know there is a lot of debate about unfair advantage, but what unfair advantage? First of all, this is as neutral a venue for us as it is for other teams. I don’t even remember which was the last tournament we played at this stadium.” The head coach further said, “We did not practice here even for a single day. We are practicing at the ICC Academy. There is a 180-degree difference between the conditions here and there. Some people just know how to complain. I don’t think we have got any unfair advantage.” Gambhir also said that India did not field four spinners because they knew the conditions beforehand.
He said, “If you take two spinners in a 15-member team, whether you play in Pakistan or anywhere, we will definitely select them because the tournament is being held in the subcontinent. We played two or three spinners in the last two matches, the rest were all-rounders.” Against New Zealand and Australia, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakraborty were proper spinners, while Ravindra Jadeja and Akshar Patel are proper all-rounders.