Rohit Sharma's Honest Take on Claims of Unfair Advantage of Playing All Matches in Dubai
March 11, 2025: India’s Champions Trophy 2025 victory has been marred by ongoing debates over whether the team had an unfair advantage by playing all its matches in Dubai, instead of traveling to Pakistan, the official host. However, Rohit Sharma has now responded candidly to the allegations, acknowledging the conditions but stating that India simply played smarter cricket.
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Rohit’s Honest Admission: “India Used Conditions Smartly”
Rohit Sharma dismissed the "unfair advantage" accusations, stating that India adapted well to the conditions and executed their strategy to perfection.
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"We saw how much these surfaces were used before we came here. I knew that the slower bowlers would come into play. So, we picked the squad based on that," said Rohit.
He highlighted how India’s spin-heavy strategy—with Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy—helped them restrict teams under 250 consistently, which was a game-changing factor in the tournament.
"India Would Have Won Anywhere" – Rohit Dismisses Venue Controversy
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"Someone was telling me that we've lost only one game in the last three ICC tournaments. So, it's a great milestone to have," Rohit said.
His comments align with Wasim Akram’s recent statement, where the Pakistan legend admitted that India would have won the Champions Trophy even if they played in Pakistan.
India’s Unbeaten ICC Streak Continues
T20 World Cup 2024 - Winners (Undefeated) Champions Trophy 2025 - Winners (Undefeated)
India’s record in the last three ICC tournaments: 19 wins, 1 loss
With such dominance, Rohit emphasized that India’s success isn’t dependent on the venue but on their ability to perform under pressure.
Champions Trophy Final: Rohit’s Crucial 76 & Spin Domination
In the final against New Zealand, Rohit scored a match-winning 76 on a tricky surface, helping India chase 252. He admitted that playing under these conditions required significant adjustments:
"Even if you score 30 or 40 runs and win the match, you get more satisfaction and happiness than scoring a hundred in a losing cause."
What’s Next for Team India?
After securing back-to-back ICC trophies, India’s next challenge will be the five-Test series against England in June, following IPL 2025.
What do you think? Did India really have an "unfair advantage," or did they just outplay every team? 
Last Updated on March 11, 2025 by Misha Bhatia
