With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 reaching its business end, the debate over India’s potential advantage in Dubai has become the talk of the town.

The Dubai International Cricket Stadium is playing host to India's Champions Trophy matches. Since the BCCI refused to send its team to Pakistan due to security concerns and uncordial political relations, the ICC adopted a hybrid model, allowing Rohit Sharma’s team to play all of their games in a neutral venue.

India are currently on an unbeaten streak in the eight-team tournament. After beating Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand in the group-stage, the Men in Blue outplayed Australia in the semi-final to make their third successive appearance in the Champions Trophy final.

In the midst of their dominance, several former and current cricketers like Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton, David Miller, Rassie van der Dussen among others have pointed out that India are getting undue advantage in this competition by playing at just one venue.

However, India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on Friday (March 7) dismissed such talks, stating that the team is honouring the schedule, which was made by the ICC.

“I don't understand what advantage we get from this (pitch). People feel that India gained an advantage after we won the matches. I don't know what to say about that. We just played according to the draw,” Kotak said in the press conference.

“We obviously practise on a different wicket. We are playing matches on slightly different pitches. We all know that. So, the only thing is that we played here. But that is how the draw is. Nothing else can be done about it. It is not as if, after coming here, something was changed to give us an advantage,” he added.

Kotak went on to take a dig at the critics who complained about India having an unfair advantage. He further mentioned that playing good cricket on any pitch is more important rather than complaining after the defeat.

"I think in a game, you have to play good cricket every day when you turn up. If you don't play well, then you can't complain. And if you do play well, there is no point in debating whether you had an advantage or not. I don't really think we have an advantage just because we are practising here and playing matches here," he remarked.

Earlier, India head coach Gautam Gambhir had rubbished claims of an unfair advantage, pointing out that his team train on practice pitches at the ICC Academy in Dubai and not on the playing surfaces at the Dubai International Cricket Ground.

Addressing the media after India's semi-final win over Australia, Gambhir called the critics "perpetual cribbers."

India will now face New Zealand in the final of the Champions Trophy on Sunday (March 9). The title clash will take place in Dubai as well.