Opponents in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025 allege the Indian team benefits from playing exclusively at the Dubai Cricket Stadium under the Hybrid Model.
While other teams have had to compete across three different venues in Pakistan, their schedule has remained fixed in Dubai, including the semifinal and a potential final.
Matt Henry acknowledged that India had adapted well to the conditions, emphasizing that their familiarity with the venue played a role in their 44-run victory over his team.
However, despite these claims, all the group-stage matches were played on different surfaces, and reports suggest that the first semifinal will also be held on a fresh pitch.
The Rohit Sharma-led side is set to face Australia in the first semifinal today, where Australian curator Matthew Sandery has prepared slow, spin-friendly tracks.
Addressing the claims of a venue advantage, Rohit Sharma dismissed the notion, stating that his team had no prior knowledge of the specific pitch to be used in the semifinal.
The opening batter stressed that adaptation was key, as Dubai was not the home venue for Men in Blue and conditions remained unfamiliar to them.
On the rest day, Australian skipper Steve Smith observed a dry, worn-out pitch after speaking with the groundman.
