A day after captain Rohit Sharma dismissed the idea that India had an advantage playing in Dubai, their head coach Gautam Gambhir also addressed the ongoing discussions.
While many have criticized the advantage India have by playing all their matches in Dubai, a place in the final is likely to further intensify these discussions are unlikely to stop, and Gambhir, who seemed frustrated by the comments, shared his thoughts.
Speaking at the post match press conference he said, “There’s been a lot of talk about unfair advantages. But what unfair advantage? We haven’t even practiced here for a single day. We’re training at the ICC Academy, and the conditions there are completely different from here. The pitches are as different as day and night. Some people are perpetual cribbers and need to grow up. There’s no advantage for us, and nothing was planned,”
India has played all their matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and reached the Champions Trophy final with an unbeaten record. Gambhir further added, "I know people keep talking about the unfair advantage, but this is as neutral a venue for us as it is for any other team. I don't even remember the last tournament we played here,"
Team India breaks unique records upon entering Champions Trophy final
Rohit has become the first-ever skipper to make it to the final in all four Men's ICC tournaments. India finished as the runners-up of the World Test Championship and ODI World Cup in 2023. They lost both the finals to Australia. A year later, India defeated South Africa to win the T20 World Cup.
India has reached their third successive final at the Champions Trophy, becoming the first side to do so. The Men in Blue won the 2013 edition under the leadership of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. They finished as the runners-up of the 2017 edition, where Pakistan defeated the Virat Kohli-led side in the final.
India's 265 is the highest target successfully chased down by a side against Australia in ICC ODI tournament knockouts. India held the previous record, having chased down 261 in the 2011 World Cup quarter-final in Ahmedabad.
Kohli, who slammed a match-winning 84 against Australia, became the first batter with more than 1,000 runs in ICC knockout matches. Kohli is followed by Rohit on this list, who has scored 808 runs
