ICC Champions Trophy: Hue and cry mounts over venue advantage for India

Eight years since Pakistan lifted the Champions Trophy, also labeled as the 'mini-World Cup,' the tournament saw a revival. As the defending champions, Pakistan fought for the hosting rights, which they won after much deliberation. Consequently, the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 became the first-ever ICC tournament that Pakistan hosted solely. In the puddle since the 2009 attack on the touring Sri Lanka squad, the event was likely to bring the action back to the nation. However, India, sharing the border with Pakistan in a not-at-all-ideal relationship, refused to travel to Pakistan. Following an extended face-off, India got Dubai as the venue for all their Champions Trophy fixtures. The decision, taken after much discussion, however, seems to have ruffled many feathers.

The fact that India and Pakistan share troubled relations as border-sharing neighbors is not a secret. After the gruesome terror attacks of 26/11, India shunned the neighbors totally, with bilateral series completely ruled out as a possibility. Moreover, the Men in Blue have not traveled to the neighboring country since the 2008 Asia Cup, a streak they like to maintain to ensure the safety of their players. Now, for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, India stood firm on its stance despite Pakistan coming to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup. After much debate and an intervention from the ICC, the ICC Champions Trophy adapted to the hybrid model, with the PCB opting for Dubai as the other venue for the games. India, meanwhile, was scheduled to play all three group-stage matches in Dubai, as well as the semi-final and the final if they qualify.

Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton reiterate the advantage as India qualify for ICC Champions Trophy semi-final

After playing two matches in the ICC Champions Trophy India has qualified for the semi-final along with New Zealand from Group A. The Men in Blue started their campaign against Bangladesh, claiming a six-wicket win over them. Scheduled next was the battle of arch-rivals India vs Pakistan. Only this time, the battle didn’t look equally proportioned, with India in sublime form but Pakistan misfiring from all units. Pakistan, having arrived in Dubai after a 60-run defeat to New Zealand in the tournament opener, was poised for a campaign-shattering outing against India.

India, led by the 82nd international century of Virat Kohli, beat the neighbors by six wickets to qualify for the Champions Trophy semi-final. The defending champions, meanwhile, were eliminated when their slight hope for qualification was dashed as Bangladesh lost to New Zealand on Monday. Having played only two matches, the hosts became the first team to be virtually knocked out of the ICC Champions Trophy. The official tag arrived after Bangladesh joined and accompanied Pakistan out of qualification contention.

India, however, has landed at the target of many cricket pundits, who are recounting the venue advantage for the Men in Blue. The team looks in impressive form, with all the batters seemingly back in their top form. Moreover, they have not missed seamer Jasprit Bumrah as much as anticipated ahead of the tournament. However, while the team continues roaring their domination over the others in their Champions Trophy group, the fraternity can’t help but highlight how playing all their matches at the same venue is benefiting India.

After Australian skipper Pat Cummins, who is not playing the marquee event due to an injury, former English cricketers have now reiterated the point. While Cummins noted the impressive performances by the team, the skipper pointed out that playing at the same venue throughout the ICC Champions Trophy gives India an edge. Sharing similar views, Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain noted that the Men in Blue are not required to travel, a luxury that others in the competition do not get.

"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," Atherton said recently.

"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," he added.

Nasser Hussain, in conversation with Atherton, echoed similar views. The former English cricketer noted that by the time the semi-finals arrive, India would have become all too well-acclimatized. Meanwhile, their opponent in the fixture, hailing from Group B, would play their first match at the venue. Group B contains Australia, England, South Africa, and Afghanistan in the mix, with the Kangaroos and South Africa emerging as the favorites for semi-final qualification. However, the teams are scheduled to play all their group-stage fixtures in Pakistan before the semi-finals commence.

"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. They are at one place, one hotel, they don't have to travel. They have one dressing room. They know the pitch, they have picked for that pitch," said the former England captain.