Courtesy: Google/BCCI
Ahead of their all-important ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Group B clash against England on Saturday, March 1, the South African batter, Rassie van der Dussen, discussed how the Indian cricket team got only one venue in Dubai for their matches in the tournament unlike other teams. While the 36-year-old stated that India has the advantage in this regard, the pressure is also on them to use the conditions since they have all that knowledge about it.
Notably, in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, only the Indian cricket team are scheduled to play all their matches at one venue, which is the Dubai International Stadium. While in comparison, the hosts Pakistan, Bangladesh, and New Zealand not only have to travel to different venues in Pakistan, but also make their way to Dubai in the UAE, for one of their Group A matches against India.
The pressure would be on them to get it right: Rassie van der Dussen on India's advantage in CT 2025
In the pre-match press conference before South Africa played against England at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, Rassie van der Dussen spoke at length about the same venue for India in the Champions Trophy. He was quoted as saying, as per Cricbuzz, “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.”
The South African also pointed out that if India goes on to reach the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, then they will be quite used to the conditions at the Dubai International Stadium, which won’t be the case for other teams. He said, “I don't think you have to be a rocket scientist to know that. The onus would be on them to use that advantage. 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 - and [India] are going to be used to them.”
“The pressure would be on them to get it right because they have all that knowledge,” he further remarked.
