Gautam Gambhir dismisses criticism of India's advantage in Dubai

The 2013 CT winners became the first team to secure a spot in 2025 final after overcoming Australia by four wickets.

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Indian cricket team coach Gautam Gambhir strongly rejected claims that India enjoys an advantage in the playing conditions of Dubai following their four-wicket victory over Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final.

The 2013 champions became the first team to secure a spot in the final after overcoming Australia by four wickets on Tuesday.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Gambhir addressed the accusations of India benefiting from Dubai's conditions, calling them baseless and unfounded.

He stated, "Even if this tournament was held in Pakistan, we would have still gone with two spinners. The idea that we have some kind of edge in Dubai is completely unfounded."

Gambhir went on to highlight that the Indian team hadn’t practiced even a single day at the Dubai International Stadium. Instead, their training was conducted at the ICC Cricket Academy, which has different conditions from the main venue.

He further refuted the criticisms, saying, "Tell me, when and where has India played a tournament under these current Dubai conditions? I can’t remember." He added that Dubai’s conditions were unfamiliar to all teams, including India, pointing out that the pitches don’t favor India in any special way.

The former cricketer also responded to critics who focus on players' statistics, such as runs and wickets, rather than their impact on the game.

"As journalists, you look at the numbers and statistics. We analyze the impact a player has on the game. Scoring big runs doesn’t make a player great if it doesn’t influence the outcome of the match," he explained.

Gambhir expressed full confidence in his team’s abilities, stating, "Our players have excelled in every department of the game. Each one of them has taken responsibility and shown the hunger to win. But the job isn’t done yet; there’s still one crucial match to win."

Addressing ongoing criticism of the team selection, Gambhir dismissed it, stating, "We don’t care about criticism from outsiders. Our focus is solely on the performance of the players and the success of the team."

With the team now focusing on the final, Gambhir’s remarks reflect the determination and confidence within the camp, as they aim for another Champions Trophy victory.