Dubai International Cricket Stadium is playing host to India's Champions Trophy matches.
Team India have played a dominant brand of cricket in their two Champions Trophy 2025 matches so far. While the Men in Blue opened their campaign with a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh, they outclassed arch-rivals Pakistan by same margin in the next match.
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.
On Thursday (February 27), South African batter Rassie van der Dussen also joined the bandwagon, saying that one doesn't "have to be a rocket scientist to know" that India are "definitely" in an advantageous position being based in Dubai for the ongoing Champions Trophy.
However, he pointed out that their knowledge of the conditions could also put them under pressure to fully exploit it.
"It's definitely an advantage. I saw that Pakistan was commenting about it, but it's definitely an advantage. If you can stay in one place, stay in one hotel, practise in the same facilities, play in the same stadium, on the same pitches every time, it's definitely an advantage," van der Dussen was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
"I don't think you have to be a rocket scientist to know that. The onus would be on them to use that advantage," he added.
"In a sense, it puts more pressure on them because whoever is going to play them in the semi or potentially the final is going to go there and the conditions are going to be foreign but they (India) are going to be used to it. The pressure would be on them to get it right because they have all that knowledge."
Earlier, Pakistan head coach Aaqib Javed had hinted at advantage before playing down the suggestions that India had the upper hand from the beginning.
"See, they are in Dubai for a reason," Aaqib said. "If they are playing in Dubai for a reason, definitely if you play on the same pitch or ground, you will have an advantage.
"But we are not losing because they had the advantage of the same hotel and pitch (laughs). It's not just because of the pitch, and neither did they play some ten matches there."
South Africa are currently leading the team standings in Group B with three points from two matches, and if they continue their run, they might travel to Dubai for a Champions Trophy semi-final or final.
The Proteas will either play India in Dubai on March 4 or New Zealand in Lahore on March 5 if they qualify for the semifinals.
Van der Dussen indicated the game in Lahore would be his personal preference but said the team would be ready for either.
"If it's a personal thing, I would say playing in Lahore because it's just good to bat there. The Dubai pitch is not as high-scoring as Lahore, but no, I don't think it really matters," he said.
"Probably logistically it will be easier to play in Lahore. You don't have to go through an international flight and go to Dubai and literally go to another country to play. Lahore is not too far from where we are at the moment, so conditions are fairly similar. It's literally one of those things, we don't know what's going to happen until Saturday evening."
South Africa will play their last group game against England on Saturday (March 1) at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.