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The epitome of cricketing action has begun and is set to peak in the coming days with Champions Trophy 2025 entering into its most exciting phase with some jaw-dropping fixtures up for grabs. However, before the semi-finals of the tournament, former England captain Nasser Hussain has opened up on the manner in which the current format is going on with India having to play all its fixtures in Dubai while all other teams travelled to Pakistan.
Nasser Hussain exclaims on advantage to India in Champions Trophy 2025
Ahead of England’s vital clash against Afghanistan, former England skipper Hussain has made some sensational remarks on Indian prospects in the tournament and talked about the potential reasons behind their impressive performances so far.
“It is an advantage. So, the best team in the tournament have that advantage. And I saw a tweet the other day saying ‘Pakistan host nation, India home advantage.’ It sums it up really,” Hussain remarked while discussing India’s chances in the tournament with Michael Atherton in the Sky Sports Podcast.
Additionally, Atherton also affirmed that the fact India is playing their matches only in one venue is an advantage to the team, while other sides in the tournament have to travel to different venues, including Dubai and acclimatize to the conditions accordingly.
“What about the advantage India have in playing in Dubai, only in Dubai? Which seems to me to be a hard-to-quantify advantage, but an undeniable advantage, They’re playing at just one venue. They don’t have to travel either between venues or, you know, between countries, as a lot of other teams have to do. Therefore, the selection, you know, can focus in on the conditions in Dubai. And obviously, they’ll know where they’re playing their semi-final as and when they get through to that. That seems to me to be an undeniable advantage, but, you know, kind of hard to quantify how big an advantage,” Atherton said.
Also Read: Champions Trophy 2025: Semifinalists of Group A confirmed
Hussain analyses India’s strategy in Champions Trophy 2025
Furthermore, Hussain also talked about India’s successful game plan to tackle teams in the venue so far and their ability to bring the game to the opposition. The Indian team managed to triumph against Bangladesh in the opening encounter of the tournament and defeated Pakistan to enter into the semifinals of the competition.
“They were very smart in their selection. They probably knew what Dubai is going to be like. They picked all their spinners. there was a bit of debate with Indian media saying why don’t you have gone for an extra seamer? Why all these spinners? Now we can seen why. Other teams will have to pick playing XIs for different conditions in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi and then they have to travel and adjust to those conditions So it is an advantage but what else could have happened. Once India refused to come to Pakistan, what could have happen. You can’t have a tournament like this without India-Pakistan. It had to be in Dubai. They sit happily and comfortably there. They know they are going to play six games there and if they will win all those, they will win another global tournament,” Hussain concluded.
India are set to square-off against New Zealand in their last group-stage fixture. The Blackcaps, like India, have remained undefeated in the tournament so far with 2 wins to their name and a better run-rate than the Indian team.
