India’s batting coach disputes claims of an advantage playing in Dubai for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He insists their performance is based on cricketing quality, not on the venue. Both coaches express confidence in their teams while minimizing the significance of last encounters.
India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, has firmly rejected claims that playing all their matches in Dubai during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 affords the team any unfair advantage. He emphasized that the decision regarding the venue was made prior to the tournament, thus undermining any belief that geographical location plays a role in India’s success.
The final match sees India facing New Zealand at the Dubai International Stadium, after India completed their group stage unbeaten. Kotak maintained that their performance cannot be attributed to the venue but rather to consistent quality cricket. The coach indicated that critics should not focus solely on the location as it is a function of the scheduling.
Political tensions prevented India from touring Pakistan for this tournament, leading to their matches being played in Dubai. South Africa’s David Miller noted the logistical challenges faced by teams flying from Pakistan to Dubai, emphasizing that this caused some discomfort. Kotak acknowledged the contrasting pitch conditions between Pakistan and Dubai, yet reiterated that competitive quality is paramount.
Kotak further remarked on the importance of mindset and urged the team to focus on the upcoming match rather than their last encounter against New Zealand, which they won by 44 runs. He remains optimistic about their performance without dwelling on past results.
New Zealand’s head coach, Gary Stead, echoed that they do not concern themselves with India’s supposed edge in home familiarity. He expressed confidence in their preparation and was optimistic about the upcoming final, indicating that their experience in Dubai would benefit their performance against India.
In summary, as India prepares to face New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final, both coaches have articulated their perspectives on the venue’s impact. While critics question India’s advantage due to the matches being hosted in Dubai, both Sitanshu Kotak and Gary Stead focus on the importance of performance and preparation over location. The emphasis on quality cricket and mindset sets the stage for an intriguing final.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
