Team India faces Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-final in Dubai, with experts noting India’s extended stay in the city has helped them acclimatize better than other teams. The match will use a new pitch to level the playing field, despite India playing on three different pitches during group stages. Former cricketer Aakash Chopra has advised captain Rohit Sharma to opt to bat first if he wins the toss, emphasizing the dry conditions of the Dubai International Stadium. Rohit acknowledged the unpredictability of the pitches, stating the team must adapt to various challenges as they arise in the tournament.
India’s cricket team will face off against Australia in the first semi-final of the Champions Trophy in Dubai on Tuesday. Experts have expressed concerns regarding India’s decision to remain in Dubai for the entirety of the ICC tournament, stating that this choice may provide them with a superior opportunity to adapt to the playing conditions compared to other teams. Nevertheless, prior to the final, it was announced that the semi-final between India and Australia will take place on a new pitch to help level the playing field.
For those unaware, India was required to play on three distinct pitches throughout their three group matches.
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra shared his thoughts on the pitch situation ahead of the match, advising India captain Rohit Sharma to choose to bat first if he wins the toss.
“A fresh pitch for #IndvAus semifinal. We shall discover the true essence of ‘The more we change, the more we remain the same.’ The entire square at the Dubai International Stadium is completely dry and lacking in grass. A slight shift left or right will not alter anything. Just wish for Rohit to win the toss and bat first. That will be Game. Set. Match,” Chopra tweeted.
A fresh pitch for #IndvAus semifinal. We
Shall find out the real meaning of ‘The more we change, the more we remain the same’
The whole square at the Dubai International Stadium is bone-dry and bereft of grass. A little shift left or right won’t have any impact. Mast…
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 3, 2025
On the eve of the match, Rohit emphasized that Dubai is not their “home venue” and that the pitches here have presented “varied challenges” to his team.
“Each time, the pitch presents different challenges. The three matches we played here each had different pitch behavior. This is not our home; this is Dubai. We don’t play here often, and it is also new for us,” Rohit stated at the pre-match press conference before the semi-final against Australia.
“There are four or five surfaces being utilized here. I can’t predict which pitch will be used in the semifinals. However, we need to adapt and assess what is happening and what isn’t. We’ll adjust our approach accordingly,” he added.
“We noticed that when the (New Zealand) bowlers bowled, there was some swing. We didn’t see that in our first two games when our bowlers were bowling. In the last match, we didn’t witness much spin, but today there was some,” he explained.
“Thus, different elements are at play on each surface. It’s not as if we know what to expect from this pitch and what we don’t,” he commented.
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