New Delh: As the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy unfolds, India’s strategic advantage in playing all their matches in Dubai has become a focal point. The tournament, structured under a hybrid model due to security concerns, allows India to maintain a consistent home ground advantage, unlike other teams that must travel across different venues in Pakistan. This setup has drawn attention from injured Australian captain Pat Cummins, who believes India’s consistent play in Dubai gives them a significant edge.
India, led by Rohit Sharma, has already demonstrated their strength by winning both their initial matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan, securing a spot in the semifinals. Cummins, who is missing the tournament due to an injury, noted, “I think it’s good that the tournament can go on, but obviously it does give them (India) a huge advantage playing on the same ground. They already look very strong and they’ve got that obvious benefit of playing all their games there.”
The hybrid model was adopted after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expressed concerns about traveling to Pakistan. As a result, India’s matches are confined to the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, while other teams face the challenge of adapting to different conditions in Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi. This consistency in venue is seen as a strategic advantage, allowing India to focus their selection and tactics on a single set of conditions.
Former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain have also highlighted the benefits of India’s consistent venue, suggesting it allows for more focused team selection and preparation. Meanwhile, Cummins is set to return to competitive cricket next month with the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he captains the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
