Is the Indian team getting an unfair advantage in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 by playing all its matches in Dubai?

[Rajdeep]

India is set to play all its group-stage matches at the Dubai Cricket Stadium during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, a venue known for its relatively neutral, but challenging, low and slow surfaces. In contrast, other teams will need to navigate the diverse conditions between Pakistan's batting-friendly pitches, which tend to favor high-scoring games with more pace and bounce, and Dubai's slower wickets that often make it harder to accelerate the game in the later overs.

From a tactical standpoint, this presents a potential advantage for India, as they will become increasingly accustomed to the slower, more spin-friendly conditions of Dubai, potentially giving them an edge in terms of strategy and preparation. In contrast, teams playing in both Pakistan and Dubai will have to adjust quickly between different playing styles and conditions, which could impact their performance consistency.

Does this geographical and surface-based disparity give India an unfair advantage in the tournament?

Let’s discuss

 

[Kianig89]

Definitely yes, India is basically playing CT as another home nation , which is absurd given the tournament dynamics

 

[Rajdeep]

Think if PCB is smart, they should emulate the pitches of Pakistan similar to Dubai to remove this disparity. But then we all know, PCB isn't smart, so it is what it is.

 

[RexRex]

Does this geographical and surface-based disparity give India an unfair advantage in the tournament?

It sure does.

 

[Rajdeep]

I didn't expect esteemed posters like @Bhaag Viru Bhaag and @Devadwal to just laugh at the OP. Pls give your input guys, one way or other.

 

[gazza619]

India also has unfair advantage in the test championship cycle. They dont deserve to be in the race for final without beating Pakistan.

 

[Devadwal]

I didn't expect esteemed posters like @Bhaag Viru Bhaag and @Devadwal to just laugh at the OP. Pls give your input guys, one way or other.

Pakistan played most of cricket in UEA from last 15 year's.

Every team has played enough cricket there even more than india .

I don't think Indian team will gets much advantage just because we are playing all three league games there.

England team player's are already practicing in the UAE .

South Africa , Pakistan and NZ will Play a tri series on the same Pakistan ground just before the champions trophy.

 

[Rajdeep]

India also has unfair advantage in the test championship cycle. They dont deserve to be in the race for final without beating Pakistan.

Nah...honestly India dnt have any advantage in WTC. If anything Pak got an easy route in last 2 WTC cycles but no one can help if they lose all matches. This one for CT 2025 merits a discussion.

 

[mominsaigol]

Nah...honestly India dnt have any advantage in WTC. If anything Pak got an easy route in last 2 WTC cycles but no one can help if they lose all matches. This one for CT 2025 merits a discussion.

Nah...honestly India dnt have any advantage in WTC

.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Obviously playing all your matches at a single venue do make you favorites.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

No not at all. Rigging draws, predetermining where they will play, and pitch tampering that India regularly does provides no advantage.

 

[Rajdeep]

Esteemed . Their basically more cringy and evil versions of you lol.

Hello Mr. Saigol, do you disagree with the OP? UAE produces low and slow surfaces where batting can get tough and timing becomes key. In Pakistan on the other hand, one can play along the line trusting the bounce on those truer surfaces. Don't you think teams, especially teams like Aus, Eng and NZ will struggle to adapt.

Rajdeep.

 

[mominsaigol]

Hello Mr. Saigol, do you disagree with the OP? UAE produces low and slow surfaces where batting can get tough and timing becomes key. In Pakistan on the other hand, one can play along the line trusting the bounce on those truer surfaces. Don't you think teams, especially teams like Aus, Eng and NZ will struggle to adapt.

Rajdeep.

They will but India will be the first to struggle lol.

 

[Local.Dada]

They will but India will be the first to struggle lol.

India will struggle because our batsmen don’t like sluggish pitches like Dubai etc where pitches are slow and sluggish. Indian batsmen need true pace and bounce.

I think Virat Kohli and dare I say this Rizwan are the only 2 guys who have a method to make runs here.

 

[mominsaigol]

India will struggle because our batsmen don’t like sluggish pitches like Dubai etc where pitches are slow and sluggish. Indian batsmen need true pace and bounce.

I think Virat Kohli and dare I say this Rizwan are the only 2 guys who have a method to make runs here.

I think Virat Kohli and dare I say this Rizwan are the only 2 guys who have a method to make runs here.

 

[Devadwal]

Well without speaking on behalf of anyone else me personally I can't abandon my support of Pakistan. Even if we lose every match I will give them my support and can't change my team.

Absolutely. Supporting the own country team is a pride.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Guys please stick to the thread topic.

 

[mominsaigol]

Absolutely. Supporting the own country team is a pride.

So is staying in your country and your lane

 

[Rajdeep]

Looking at the jhagra so far, I cant wait for Champions trophy to start. It will be epic few weeks. More than action on the field, I am looking forward to the cat fights here. Netflix may remove WWE from their program and show the war between posters here which is more interesting

 

[Devadwal]

Looking at the jhagra so far, I cant wait for Champions trophy to start. It will be epic few weeks. More than action on the field, I am looking forward to the cat fights here. Netflix may remove WWE from their program and show the war between posters here which is more interesting

Whatever will be the result I'm always rooting for team india and doesn't depend on others team's to prove a point.

Can't wait for 20 Feb When we Will smashed Bangladesh then end the Pakistani fan's dream of winning the champion trophy on 23 Feb at the Dubai . Pakistan fan's will be like - ye tournaments to start hote hi end ho gya apna

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I don't think India have much of an advantage. For one thing, India's ability to play spin has heavily declined in recent times. Also, in ICC tournaments the concept of "home advantage" is overrated. India had every advantage imaginable in the last World Cup. They even had the advantage of tampering pitches, which other home teams aren't accorded in ICC tournaments, and we all know how that turned out.

 

[mumtaz]

Potentially a disadvantage. Dubai heavily tilts towards the team batting 2nd with the heavy dew causing the low slow surface to become a batting paradise in the last 25 overs of the game.

Pretty much will be a toss lottery in all games.

 

[Devadwal]

Potentially a disadvantage. Dubai heavily tilts towards the team batting 2nd with the heavy dew causing the low slow surface to become a batting paradise in the last 25 overs of the game.

Pretty much will be a toss lottery in all games.

Dew will play Very important role both in pakistan and Dubai.

So yes toss will become very important factor.

 

[Hyder]

India tends to perform better on belters and roads as compared to sluggish pitches. If anything i think it ll be disadvantage for them.

 

[mumtaz]

Dew will play Very important role both in pakistan and Dubai.

So yes toss will become very important factor.

The difference is that in Pakistan, the pitches are not slow so the team batting first can at least have scoreboard pressure of let's say, 350 runs. Good luck trying to score even 300 batting first in Dubai.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Hello Mr. Saigol, do you disagree with the OP? UAE produces low and slow surfaces where batting can get tough and timing becomes key. In Pakistan on the other hand, one can play along the line trusting the bounce on those truer surfaces. Don't you think teams, especially teams like Aus, Eng and NZ will struggle to adapt.

Rajdeep.

Did the ICC or Pakistan force the BCCI to play in the UAE?

 

[Local.Dada]

I think Virat Kohli and dare I say this Rizwan are the only 2 guys who have a method to make runs here.

You heard me right. I think thiese conditions might suit Bangladesh batsmen though . I think Ind vs Pak will be a boring one sided match either ways because of the pitch with both set of batsmen either getting impatient or too tuk tuk except Kohli and Rizwan. This pitch isn’t suitable for players like Rahul, Rohit, Babar, Gill etc. Shreyas Iyer might be a wild card here though.

 

[Local.Dada]

Did the ICC or Pakistan force the BCCI to play in the UAE?

To be honest Pakistan odi white ball pitches are 400+ type pitches from what I have seen. Even more patta and small grounds than IPL games. So don’t think any Indian batsmen would have an issue playing here from a career stand point.

As far as BCCI changing venue to Dubai I am sure players batting stats and flat pitches was not the consideration in that decision. What’s your question again?

 

[mominsaigol]

You heard me right. I think thiese conditions might suit Bangladesh batsmen though . I think Ind vs Pak will be a boring one sided match either ways because of the pitch with both set of batsmen either getting impatient or too tuk tuk except Kohli and Rizwan. This pitch isn’t suitable for players like Rahul, Rohit, Babar, Gill etc. Shreyas Iyer might be a wild card here though.

Fair enough, that's your opinion and I respect it.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Of course they are.

 

[jnaveen1980]

You don't get ground advantage in LOIs. Only toss advantage. Playing on the same used track won't make us better and better. It might make Indian batting worse and worse

 

[msb314]

Dew only becomes important if you have already adapted to the slowness of the pitch. I.e ball will not grip or spin.

Otherwise mindless slogging - dew or no dew will not work