“Had India lost in Dubai”: Cheteshwar Pujara reacts to the Men in Blue’s unfair advantage in Champions Trophy

India’s journey to the Champions Trophy 2025 final has sparked considerable debate, particularly regarding the perceived advantage of playing all their matches at a single venue in Dubai. While other teams have had to adapt to different conditions and frequently travel between Pakistan and the UAE, India has remained in one city throughout.

This scheduling decision by the ICC has faced criticism from pundits and former players, who argue that it has provided Rohit Sharma’s team with an unfair advantage.

However, Cheteshwar Pujara, India’s star Test batter, disagrees with this view. He points out that the Champions Trophy schedule was finalized weeks before the tournament, and the UAE was chosen for its logistical convenience.

“I don’t believe that’s the case. The schedule was already available before the Champions Trophy began. The reason the Indian team didn’t travel to Pakistan was primarily due to security concerns. Both the ICC and BCCI made efforts to find a neutral venue. India has previously faced Pakistan at a neutral location, and the UAE, being closer to Pakistan, seemed like a suitable option,” Pujara shared with RevSportz.

Pujara also believes that India’s real advantage lies in the sheer talent of their squad. He highlighted the team’s strength, particularly its depth in spin bowling, with four top-quality spinners, which he feels gives India a significant edge over other teams.

“I don’t see it as an unfair advantage. Had India lost, no one would have attributed the loss to playing in Dubai. It’s not as if Dubai is a home ground for India. The real advantage lies in the talent India possesses, especially the number of all-rounders in the team,” Pujara continued.

“We have talented players like Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja, along with skilled spinners such as Varun and Kuldeep. Four quality spinners give us an edge. Other teams typically only have two, which is why they’ve struggled both in the UAE and Pakistan.

“I believe we have the best balance as a team. Along with the all-rounders, we also have Hardik, another valuable all-rounder. Our top-order and batting lineup contribute to the team’s strength. So, the key to India’s success is the team’s balance, not the venue,” Pujara concluded.

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