Rassie van der Dussen has joined a growing list of cricketing personalities, including Pat Cummins, Aaqib Javed, Nasser Hussain, and Michael Atherton, in voicing concerns about the advantage India holds in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Unlike other teams, India will play all its matches at the Dubai International Stadium, including the semi-final and final if they qualify. This unique arrangement spares them the hassle of changing hotels, traveling between cities, or adjusting to varying pitch and weather conditions.
The ICC was left with no alternative but to implement this schedule after the Indian government denied permission for its cricket team to travel to Pakistan, the original host of the tournament. Consequently, while India remains stationed in Dubai throughout, their opponents must shuttle between different cities in Pakistan and Dubai, adding an extra layer of complexity to their campaigns.
Van der Dussen acknowledged the advantage India enjoys, emphasizing the consistency and comfort their team will benefit from throughout the tournament. “It’s definitely an advantage. I saw that Pakistan was commenting about it, but it’s definitely an advantage. If you can stay in one place, stay in one hotel, practise in the same facilities, play in the same stadium, on the same pitches every time, it’s definitely an advantage,” he stated in an interview.
South Africa is set to face England in their final group-stage match on Friday. Van der Dussen further elaborated on the implications of India’s exclusive schedule, remarking, “I don’t think you have to be a rocket scientist to know that. The onus would be on them to use that advantage.”
He also highlighted the added pressure on the Indian team, pointing out that any team facing them in the semi-final or final will have to acclimate to unfamiliar conditions, whereas India will be well-versed with the pitches and surroundings. “In a sense, it puts more pressure on them because whoever is going to play them in the semi or potentially the final is going to go there and the conditions are going to be foreign but they (India) are going to be used to it. The pressure would be on them to get it right because they have all that knowledge,” he concluded.
Do you agree with Rassie van der Dussen?
