Champions Trophy 2025: India's Dubai advantage raises questions as New Zealand and South Africa react

With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 reaching its crucial knockout stages, the debate over India’s potential advantage in Dubai has taken center stage. All of India’s matches, including the group-stage and semi-finals, have been scheduled in Dubai after the BCCI refused to send a team to host nation Pakistan due to political tensions. Many believe that playing at just one venue gives an undue advantage to India , who have not lost a single game thus far.

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Bracewell downplays venue controversy

New Zealand off-spinner Michael Bracewell remained opened up on the debate of venue arrangements, stating that his team is focused on adapting to conditions rather than dwelling on potential disadvantages.

“Look, it is what it is. It has been decided, and that’s the way it is, and there is no point dwelling on that,” Bracewell said on Friday.

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He emphasised the importance of learning and adjusting quickly to different conditions. “The wickets here have looked like they’ve taken a bit of a spin. So, it’ll be good to try and get used to the wickets as quickly as we can. We’ve obviously enjoyed the pitches in Pakistan, and I think we’ve got a pretty well-balanced side to play in any condition,” he added.

Walter stresses focus over complaints

Meanwhile, South Africa head coach Rob Walter also dismissed concerns about the scheduling, urging his team to focus on their performances rather than worrying about external factors.

“If we spend our energy worrying about a disadvantage, we spend less energy thinking about ourselves and what we need to be doing,” Walter said ahead of South Africa’s crucial group-stage clash against England.

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While acknowledging that India have the advantage of playing all their matches at the same Dubai venue, Walter preferred to wait and see whether it truly impacted the competition.

“Whether that turns out to be an advantage or not will remain to be seen. We have to concentrate on spending all our energy thinking about how we’re going to get through our next step, which is England, and then wherever that takes us from there,” he said.

South Africa are scheduled to play against England in their last group-stage match in Karachi on Saturday. South Africa have still not qualified for the semi-final and will look to do so in style with a win against England, who have been knocked out due to two losses in as many games.

India, on the other hand, will lock horns against New Zealand in their final group-stage game on Sunday, 2 March. Both teams have secured their berths in the semi-finals and will aim to secure a victory tomorrow in order to finish at the top of their Group A points table.