ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Are India getting ‘undeniable advantage’ at Dubai because of same venue?

Favourites India are into the semifinals of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, with two convincing six-wicket wins against Bangladesh and arch-rivals Pakistan, and other results too going in their favour.

Indian bowlers did well to restrict both Bangladesh and Pakistan to sub-250 scores, and the batters too came good, with Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli anchoring the respective chases with centuries.

But, India’s performance has stirred up a debate on whether India are getting an unfair advantage by playing all their matches at the same venue. Since the BCCI refused to send the Indian team to host country Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 because of safety concerns, the tournament is being played in the hybrid format. So, while India are playing all their matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the other nations are playing at three venues in Pakistan - Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi.

The final, too, will be played in Dubai if India go the distance.

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The latest one to flag India’s “advantage” is injured Australia captain Pat Cummins. "I think it's good in that the tournament can go on, but obviously it does give them (India) a huge advantage playing on the same ground. They already look very strong and they've got that obvious benefit of playing all their games there," Cummins, who is out with an ankle injury, told Yahoo Australia.

For instance, India’s opponents for their last group match on March 2 are New Zealand, who have only played in Pakistan so far in this tournament.

Former England cricketers Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain, too, shared the same views as Cummins. In a podcast, Atherton said that India playing only in Dubai gives them an “undeniable advantage” though it is hard to quantify. He also pointed out India will be well aware of the conditions which will also aid their team selection in the matches, unlike other teams that have to travel across the Pakistan.

Hussain also threw light on India’s decision to go in with five spinners in the squad – a move that was questioned by several experts when the team was announced. He said that India were “smart in their selection” since they knew how the conditions in Dubai would be like. Hussain said that while other teams have to adjust to the conditions of the venue they are playing at and pick their playing XI based on it, India have had the advantage of not having to do either.