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As per various reports, the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal between India and Australia will be played on a fresh pitch on Tuesday.
India captain Rohit Sharma hasn’t had a chance to take a look at the pitch. (AFP Photo)
India‘s opponents have clearly indicated how they feel that playing at a single venue has been an ‘advantage’ for Rohit Sharma‘s men in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025. As per the Hybrid Model, India are playing all their matches in Dubai including the semifinal and the final (should they qualify) while other matches have been held in three venues across Pakistan.
Matt Henry recently said India played the “conditions beautifully” in Dubai since they had the luxury of familiarity with the conditions. His comments came after New Zealand lost their first match of the competition by 44 runs to India.
However, India have played their three Group A matches in Dubai on three different surfaces and first semifinal, as per Cricbuzz, will also be played on a fresh pitch.
India will face Australia in the first semifinal of the Champions Trophy in Dubai on Tuesday.
The curator of the pitches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium is Australian Matthew Sandery who has laid out tracks that have been slow and conducive to spin bowling.
India captain Rohir Sharma had also dismissed the notion that his team is benefitting from having played at the same venue.
“In the semifinal, we don’t know which pitch is going to be played. Yes, we don’t know which pitch is going to be played in the semi-final. But whatever happens, we have to adapt and see what is happening. We will play on that. This is not our home, this is Dubai. So, we don’t play so many matches here. This is new for us too,” Rohit said.
Since Monday was an off day for the Indian team, Rohit didn’t get a chance to have a look at the fresh pitch. However, his Australian counterpart Steve Smith said the pitch looks dry.
“Obviously the whole square block is pretty dry. Having spoken to the groundsman just now, a dry surface had a lot of traffic, so we’ve seen how the wickets have played,” Smith said.
- Location :
Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
