DUBAI: Indian cricket team coach Gautam Gambhir has dismissed claims that India holds an advantage in Dubai conditions, labeling such assertions as “unfounded.”
The 2013 champions secured their place in the final after defeating Australia by five wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Gambhir firmly rejected the notion that India benefits from the conditions in Dubai, stating that such accusations are baseless and lack any factual basis.
“Even if this tournament were held in Pakistan, we would have still gone with two spinners. The idea that we have some kind of edge in Dubai is completely unfounded,” he said.
Gambhir pointed out that the Indian team has not practiced at the Dubai International Stadium even once. Instead, they have trained at the ICC Cricket Academy, which features entirely different conditions compared to the main venue.
The former cricketer strongly refuted claims of India having an advantage, saying, “Tell me, when and where has India played a tournament under these current Dubai conditions? I can’t remember.”
He added, “This criticism is unnecessary and far from the truth.”
Gambhir emphasized that Dubai’s conditions are just as unfamiliar to India as they are to other teams. “The pitches here don’t favour us in any special way,” he stated.
He also addressed the tendency of critics to focus solely on statistics rather than a player’s overall impact on the game. “As journalists, you look at the numbers and statistics. We, however, analyse the impact a player has on the game. Scoring big runs doesn’t make a player great if it doesn’t influence the outcome of the match,” he explained.
Expressing confidence in his team, Gambhir said, “Our players have excelled in every department of the game. Each one of them has taken responsibility and shown the hunger to win. But the job isn’t done yet; there’s still one crucial match to win.”
When questioned about criticism regarding team selection, Gambhir dismissed it outright. “We don’t care about criticism from outsiders. Our focus is solely on the performance of the players and the success of the team.”
Gambhir’s remarks come as India prepares for the final, aiming to clinch the ICC Champions Trophy title once again. His comments underscore the team’s determination to prove their mettle on the field, regardless of external opinions or perceived advantages.
