Mohammed Shami believes that consistently playing in one city offers a distinct advantage. This perspective contrasts with the views of the Indian team management, including the captain and coach.
“It definitely benefits us,” Shami stated after India’s victory over Australia, securing their place in the final. “We are familiar with the conditions and the pitch behavior.”
His remarks might fuel criticism towards the Indian team, as some have questioned whether India playing all their matches in Dubai is fair. “It is certainly an advantage to compete in all matches at a single venue,” Shami commented, following Tuesday’s game where he claimed three wickets for 48 runs.
However, captain Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir hold opposing views. “This isn’t our home ground; it’s Dubai. We don’t often play here. It’s a new experience for us as well,” Rohit mentioned, dismissing any talk of an advantage.
Gambhir added, “This venue is as neutral for us as it is for any other team. We haven’t played here much recently. I don’t recall when we last played a tournament in this stadium. In fact, we didn’t plan for any such advantage.”
Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton initiated this debate on a Sky Sports podcast. Atherton commented, “What about the advantage India has by playing solely in Dubai? It’s an advantage that’s difficult to quantify, but undeniably present,” a sentiment echoed by Hussain.
India is set to face New Zealand in the final on March 9 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS). This will be their fifth consecutive match at this ground, while New Zealand also has some familiarity, having played and lost their group match against India here.
