Mon Mar 03 09:50:10 UTC 2025: ## India Captain Rohit Sharma Rejects Claims of Unfair Advantage in Champions Trophy
**Dubai, UAE** – India captain Rohit Sharma has dismissed suggestions that his team holds an unfair advantage in the Champions Trophy due to their extended stay in Dubai. While several former cricketers from other nations have criticized India’s decision to remain in Dubai for the duration of the tournament, Sharma countered that the pitches have presented varied challenges, negating any supposed home-ground benefit.
“This is not our home; this is Dubai,” Sharma stated during a pre-semi-final press conference. He highlighted the inconsistent nature of the pitches, emphasizing that each match has presented different challenges, from swing bowling to spin. He cited the team’s last group stage match against New Zealand as an example, where the pitch offered swing bowling conditions unlike the previous two games.
Sharma also defended India’s selection of five spinners for the tournament, explaining that their decision was based on observations of the recently concluded ILT20 tournament in Dubai, which indicated slower surfaces. He added that wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant provided batting flexibility should an extra batsman be required.
While acknowledging that their early arrival in Dubai – five or six days prior to their first match – aided in acclimatizing to the conditions, Sharma insisted that adapting to the varying surfaces remains crucial for their success in the semi-final against Australia. He expressed a preference for pitches that offer something for both batsmen and bowlers, believing this would create a more exciting contest.
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