They have an undeniable advantage, say Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton about India’s performance in Dubai for the Champions Trophy

Virat Kohli and Axar Patel of India are jubilant after defeating their rival Pakistan during the ICC Champions Trophy. The match was held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates (AP).

Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton, two former captains of England, noted that India, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, possesses the “golden opportunity” to play all their matches in Dubai.

In what appears to be an assist heading into the Super 4 of Asia Cup 2022, India, like all other Super 4 participants, will be playing all their matches in Dubai.

In the words of Michael Atherton, “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.” Atherton makes it seem as if Dubai is not the only region India can benefit from, which goes against the goal of aiding with assists.

“He was talking about one venue, of course.” right. “They’re perfectly happy and don’t have to do lots of traveling to play in between countries and venues like a lot of other teams.”

“In effect, the selection can make it simpler than it is in terms of the requirements in Dubai and I’m sure they would know where the semi-final will be if they get through to it. That for me is some advantage and harder to measure,” he said.

Ball 1: India Captain Rohit Sharma with Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan during the toss at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. (AP)

Nasser Hussain on cricbuzz said that Indian selectors have been very calculative and the five spinners in the squad is actually quite justified.

“It’s an advantage. So, that is why the best team in the tournament will have that advantage,” he said. “And I remember seeing a tweet a few days ago, “Pakistan host nation, India home advantage.” So, yes, it does summarize it really.”

“They are in one location in the aid of a single hotel. They do not travel, they have one dressing room. They know the pitch, they selected from it. They picked for that pitch.”

“I think, with how precise the selection was done, they knew how Dubai would turn out to be. Spinners were the only ones picked. There was some chatter in the Indian media as to why didn’t you go for an additional seamer? Why did you pick so many spinners? Now we know the answer,” he said.

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“For instance, England, in case they make it to semis, have only one spinner (Rehan Ahmed replaces Brydon Carse), Pakistan has one frontline spinner. You could say the changes were quite obvious with the injuries, and I view that a different way too.”

“Other teams will have to pick playing XIs for other areas too like Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi and then they have to go to those places and prepare themselves to be in those circumstances.”

“Well, it is an advantage but what else could have been done? Once India decided they won’t be traveling to Pakistan what else could have happened? It’s impossible to have an event of this nature without India-Pakistan. So, it had to be organized in Dubai.”

“Seating comfortably, they know they will win 6 games there and if they win all those, they can win another global tournament,” he said. For more latest Cricket Update; Click Here