India coach Gautam Gambhir strongly criticized critics who claimed his team had an advantage by playing all their matches in Dubai during the Champions Trophy.
After India’s four-wicket victory over Australia in the semi-finals, Gambhir emphasized that the Dubai International Stadium was as neutral a venue for India as it was for any other team.
India had played all their matches in Dubai after refusing to tour Pakistan for the eight-nation event, while other teams had to travel between three Pakistani cities and Dubai. South Africa, for example, had to travel to Dubai despite uncertainty about their semi-final venue.
Gambhir dismissed the notion of an “undue advantage,” insisting that India had not planned their matches or venue. He pointed out that their strategy focused on using front-line spinners, a tactic that would have been employed regardless of the venue. He also noted that India hadn’t practiced in the Dubai stadium but at the ICC Academy instead, which he argued made any claims of unfair advantage baseless.
“The difference between the ground and the sky in terms of wickets is enormous,” Gambhir said, dismissing the critics as “perpetual cribbers” and urging them to grow up. He maintained there was no advantage or pre-planned strategy in their choice of venue or tactics.
