India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, has refuted allegations that playing all their Champions Trophy matches in Dubai provided the team with an unfair advantage. He emphasized that the tournament’s schedule, which assigned India to play in Dubai due to political tensions preventing their travel to Pakistan, was established prior to the event. Kotak stated, “After India winning four matches, if people feel that there is an advantage, then I don’t know what to say about it.”
The tournament’s structure required teams to travel between Pakistan and the UAE, leading to logistical challenges. For instance, South Africa’s batsman David Miller noted the inconvenience of flying to Dubai to await India’s semifinal opponent and then returning to Lahore within 24 hours. Additionally, Pakistan, the nominal hosts, had to play India in Dubai rather than on home soil. The contrasting pitch conditions between the two countries added to the complexity; Pakistan’s venues yielded high scores, whereas Dubai’s pitches were slower and favored spin.
Despite these challenges, Kotak maintained that teams must focus on performing well regardless of the circumstances, asserting that the predetermined draw did not change to favor any team. India showcased strong form throughout the tournament, remaining unbeaten in Dubai and defeating teams like New Zealand and Australia to reach the final. As they prepare to face New Zealand again in the title clash, Kotak emphasized the importance of focusing on the upcoming match rather than dwelling on past performances.
