With many former cricketers and even current stars pointing out how the hybrid model for the tournament very favours India, the negative opinion over India’s “unfair advantage” controversy in the ICC Champions Trophy rises. Rohit Sharma&’s team were set to play all of their outings in Dubai for the Champions Trophy as per the agreement among the International Cricket Council, the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Pakistan Cricket Board. India’s performance is more credited to the format of the competition that is to the players’ play as they advance to the final of the tournament.
Experienced India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, however, found the debate rather hypocritical given that no such points were raised while the tournament’s format was set. Pujara’s edge over their opposition comes from the team’s balance rather than the supposedly well-known nature of conditions.
“I don’t believe so. The schedule was available before the Champions Trophy started; the security concern was why the Indian team did not go to Pakistan. Working together, ICC and BCCI sought a fair destination. In a chat with RevSportz, Pujara said that India have competed opposite Pakistan at a neutral site and that UAE is nearer to Pakistan.
‘Not an unjust advantage, in my view. Had India lost, no one would have claimed they played in Dubai; that explains their loss. I believe India does not have a home field. India benefits from their number of all-rounders, the kind of talent they have, remarked Pujara.
Pujara praised the team’s decision to bring up to five spinners to Dubai for the Champions Trophy. This choice has been crucial in the team’s victories over the last few games.
“We got Varun and Kuldeep, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja, rtrimming and Axar Patel.” Our four first-class spinners help. Other teams have two, hence their poor performance in UAE and Pakistan.
“I believe our balance is the best; we have stronger all-rounders. There is a third all-rounder, Hardik. Afterward, you have the batting and the top-order. So, it is the balance of the Indian team that has allowed the side to be successful, not so much the venue.