India has already secured a spot in the Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals, with one Group A fixture remaining against New Zealand to determine the final standings. However, Rohit Sharma and his team have faced criticism from former and current players, as well as experts, over having a ‘home advantage’ by playing all their matches in Dubai. Notably, Australian skipper Pat Cummins, who withdrew from the tournament due to injury, criticized the ICC’s decision to allow India to play in only one venue, Dubai.
### Geo-Political Tensions and Venue Controversy
Due to geo-political tensions with Pakistan, the Indian cricket team did not travel to the host nation and requested a neutral venue, which was granted by the ICC. As a result, India will play all their matches in Dubai, including the semi-final and, if they reach it, the final. If India does not reach the final, the title clash will be played in Pakistan.
### Robin Uthappa’s Response
Addressing the controversy, Robin Uthappa, a former teammate of Virat Kohli, dismissed the notion that playing in Dubai gave India a ‘home advantage’ and provided a fitting response to the critics. Speaking via PTI, Uthappa said, “I won’t call it a home advantage, but there is definitely a familiarity advantage. I was listening to an interview yesterday. If I am not mistaken, Wasim Jaffer was saying that if he was going to play in Dubai, he could have played one match in Dubai, one match in Abu Dhabi and one match in Sharjah. They could have definitely done that. So that other teams don’t have to complain about this situation.”
### Geopolitical Context
Uthappa further explained the geopolitical context behind India’s decision not to play in Pakistan. “But why didn’t we go to Pakistan? These are geopolitical reasons. And every country has a right. If they don’t want to go, then they shouldn’t go. And if a team has to play in a venue because of that, then they have to play. We could have complained that if we had played in Pakistan, our record scores would have been very good. Every batsman gets an opportunity to make a run. This is a matter of speaking. At the end of the day, a match is between a bat and a ball. And I believe that the team that plays well on that day will win,” he added.
### India’s Performance
India began their campaign with a convincing win against Bangladesh, followed by a victory against arch-rivals Pakistan, which also marked the knockout blow for the hosts. The match saw Virat Kohli return to form, scoring an unbeaten century and hitting the match-winning four to secure his 51st ODI hundred.
### Conclusion
Uthappa’s response highlights the complexities of international cricket, where geopolitical tensions can influence venue decisions. Despite the criticism, India remains focused on their performance, with the goal of winning the Champions Trophy. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the Indian team as they navigate both on-field challenges and off-field controversies.
