India's cricket captain, Rohit Sharma, has dismissed the notion that playing all their matches in Dubai gives his team an advantage in the Champions Trophy. The tournament has seen diverse conditions across various locations including Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Dubai, challenging teams to adapt. Despite India's impressive record of eight wins out of nine One Day Internationals (ODIs) in Dubai, Sharma emphasized that the pitch has behaved differently in all three games they played. India will face Australia in a crucial semi-final match on Tuesday. The winner will advance to the final against either New Zealand or South Africa on Sunday.
Rohit Sharma addressed the media, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the pitch.
"The three matches we played, the nature of the surface was the same. But in all three games, the pitch has behaved differently."
- Rohit Sharma
Though India entered the tournament with all their games scheduled in the United Arab Emirates due to political tensions with Pakistan, Sharma maintained that this did not guarantee a consistent advantage. He stated that India, like other teams, must adapt to whatever conditions they encounter.
"We don't know which pitch is going to be played in the semi-final. But whatever happens, we have to adapt and see what is happening. We will play on that."
- Rohit Sharma
While the Champions Trophy has utilized four or five different surfaces during the tournament, India's opponents have faced varied challenges at each of their playing venues. Australia's last ODI in Dubai resulted in a 20-run victory over Pakistan in 2019, while South Africa has not played an ODI there since a loss to Pakistan in 2013. Meanwhile, New Zealand recently competed against India in Dubai.
The stakes are high as India and Australia prepare for their semi-final clash. Should India emerge victorious, the final will take place in Dubai. Conversely, an Australian win will shift the venue to Lahore. Fans can anticipate comprehensive coverage with live ball-by-ball radio commentary and a full live text commentary featuring clips on the BBC Sport website and app.
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