India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has rubbished talk of the Indian team having the advantage of playing all their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 matches at one venue-Dubai. While other teams had to adapt to changing conditions by often going between Pakistan and the UAE, India remained in one place.
This scheduling choice by the ICC has sparked criticism from experts and former players, who claim it has given Rohit Sharma's team an unfair advantage in the competition.
However, India's ace Test batter, Cheteshwar Pujara, does not believe this argument has substance. According to Pujara, the Champions Trophy schedule was confirmed weeks in advance, and the UAE was chosen for logistical reasons.
“I don't think so. The schedule was out there before the Champions Trophy began, the reason for the Indian team to not travel to Pakistan was the security. ICC and BCCI worked together to try and find a neutral venue. India has played against Pakistan at a neutral venue, and UAE is closer to Pakistan,” Pujara told RevSportz.
Pujara believes that India's only advantage is the talent in its roster. The Indian batter emphasized the fundamental difference between India and other teams, claiming that the squad has four quality spinners, which provides it an advantage.
“I don't think it's an unfair advantage. If India had lost, no one would've said they played in Dubai, that's why they lost. I don't think it's a home ground for India. The advantage for India is the kind of talent they have, and the number of all-rounders they have.
We have Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, we have Kuldeep and Varun. We have four quality spinners. If we look at other teams, they have two, that's why they are struggling in UAE as well as Pakistan.
I think we have the best balance, we have better all-rounders. We have Hardik, who is another all-rounder. Then, you have the top-order, and the batting. So, it's the balance of the Indian team which has made the side successful, rather than the venue,” Pujara signed off.
India will clash with New Zealand in the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 on Sunday, March 9 in Dubai.
