Dubai International Cricket Stadium is playing host to India's Champions Trophy matches.
Amid the dominance, some former cricketers have highlighted the advantage Rohit Sharma-led side is enjoying by playing their CT matches in one venue – the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Notably, the BCCI refused to send its team across the border due to security concerns and political tensions between the two countries, forcing the ICC to adopt a hybrid model, in which India will be playing all of their games in Dubai.
Meanwhile, England captain Jos Buttler on Tuesday (February 25) took a subtle dig at the situation where India are the only team in the tournament getting to play all their matches in one venue. However, he was quick to point out that it isn't bothering him too much.
“Not really. I think it's a unique tournament already, isn't it, with being hosted here with one team playing in a different place but that's not something I'm sort of worried too much about at the moment. I've got all my focus on preparing well tonight and our game tomorrow,” said Buttler in the pre-match press conference ahead of the Afghanistan game.
Buttler's comments came in the wake of former England captains, Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain, talking about India's 'undeniable advantage' in the ongoing Champions Trophy by playing all of their matches in Dubai.
"What about the advantage India have in playing in Dubai, only in Dubai? Which seems to me to be a hard-to-quantify advantage, but an undeniable advantage. They're playing at just one venue. They don't have to travel either between venues or, you know, between countries, as a lot of other teams have to do," Atherton said while speaking to Hussain on Sky Sports.
"Therefore, the selection, you know, can focus in on the conditions in Dubai. And obviously, they’ll know where they’re playing their semi-final as and when they get through to that. That seems to me to be an undeniable advantage, but, you know, kind of hard to quantify how big an advantage."
Hussain echoed Atherton’s sentiments, claiming that it is indeed an advantage for India. "They are at one place, one hotel, they don't have to travel. They have one dressing room. They know the pitch, they have picked for that pitch," said Hussain.