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Rohit Sharma-led Team India will take on the 2023 ODI World Cup winners, Australia in the first semi-final of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International cricket Stadium in Dubai on Tuesday, March 4. Coming into the knockout stage after contrasting results, India will be hoping to end the game in their favour after being defeated by the Aussies at home in the CWC final.
Ahead of the crucial do-or-die match, the Indian skipper, Rohit Sharma opened up on the team preparations while also hitting back at the criticism of having an undue home advantage. Speaking at the pre-match press conference on the eve of the first semi-final, Rohit Sharma adressed to criticism adding that the pitches posed fresh challenges and it was difficult to adapt to the conditions.
Three matches we played, the pitch has behaved differently: Rohit Sharma
The Mumbai batter however admitted that the nature of the surface remained the same, but the pitches behaved differently. "No, look, the three matches we played, the nature of the surface was the same. But in all three games, the pitch has behaved differently," Rohit Sharma said. "In the semi-final, 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,” he continued.
“This is not our home, this is Dubai. So, we don't play so many matches here. This is new for us too," Rohit Sharma added. The 37-year-old further went on to address, "Today (Sunday), we saw that when the bowlers were bowling, their ball was seaming and swinging a little. We didn't see that in the first two games when our bowlers were bowling. And in the evening, it's a little cold in the air. So, there are obviously a lot of chances of that swing. We know this. But the three games we played, there are four or five surfaces that are being used."
It is to be noted that these comments from Rohit Sharma came after former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton claimed that India has “undeniable advantage”. Furthermore, several former Pakistan cricketers also accused ICC for giving India the advantage to play all its matches at a single venue.
