Rassie van der Dussen emphasized India’s advantage in the Champions Trophy, as they play all matches in Dubai. This consistency in location allows India to adapt better than teams like Pakistan, which must navigate multiple venues. With India’s current performance, the pressure to leverage this home-field advantage intensifies as the tournament progresses.
In the ongoing Champions Trophy, South African cricketer Rassie van der Dussen highlighted India’s significant advantage as they play all their matches in Dubai. This setup allows the Indian team to remain in a single location, utilize the same practice facilities, and adapt to the same playing conditions. In contrast, other teams, including Pakistan, face the challenge of traveling across venues in Pakistan. Van der Dussen mentioned it’s clear that this gives India an edge, particularly regarding familiarity with local conditions.
Van der Dussen stated, “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” – ESPNcricinfo. Furthermore, he noted that the pressure is also heightened on India to capitalize on this familiar terrain, given they must perform at a high level to match expectations.
India has shown strong performance, winning their initial matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan, securing their place in the semifinals. Their last group match will be against New Zealand, which has also succeeded in its matches while playing in Pakistan. South Africa leads Group B but is aware of the potential implications of their matchups in the knockout stages of the tournament.
Van der Dussen expressed his preference for playing in Lahore over Dubai due to the favorable batting conditions, though he acknowledged logistical benefits of remaining closer to their current base. “Probably logistically it will be easier to play in Lahore. You don’t have to go through an international flight and go to Dubai and literally go to another country to play” – ESPNcricinfo.
Former Australian captain Pat Cummins supported the notion of India’s logistical convenience providing them a noteworthy advantage. Following Pakistan’s surprising struggles, coach Aaqib Javed acknowledged the situation by stating, “See, they are in Dubai for a reason. If they are playing in Dubai for a reason, definitely if you play on the same pitch or ground, you will have an advantage.” However, he emphasized that this alone does not account for their performance issues.
In summary, the location of matches in the Champions Trophy heavily favors India, granting them comfort and consistent acclimatization. Rassie van der Dussen underscored this advantage, while the decisions on match venues are shaping the competitive landscape of the tournament. South Africa remains cautious yet optimistic about their chances, recognizing the implications of venue familiarity as they advance.
Original Source: sports.ndtv.com
