Dubai: Following India's 4-wicket victory over Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-finals on Tuesday, head coach Gautam Gambhir strongly criticized those who claim that his team has gained an unfair advantage by competing entirely at a single venue in Dubai.

"What unfair advantage? We haven't practiced here (at the stadium) even for a single day. Our training takes place at the ICC Academy, and the conditions there are completely different from those here," he stated to the media. "The pitches vary significantly between the two locations. Some individuals are just habitual complainers. I believe there is no such advantage. We have not benefited in any undue manner."

After the Indian team expressed its inability to travel to Pakistan, the tournament hosts, they have conducted all their matches in Dubai, successfully chasing targets in three games and defending a total in one. In contrast, South Africa, another semi-finalist, played their group matches in Pakistan, traveled to Dubai for training, and prepared for the possibility of facing India had they finished second in Group A. They subsequently returned to Lahore for their semi-final against New Zealand on Wednesday.

New Zealand has competed in matches across Rawalpindi, Karachi, and Dubai, and will now play their semi-final at a fourth venue.

Gambhir praised captain Rohit Sharma's aggressive batting approach at the top of the order and declined to comment on his future. "We have the Champions Trophy final to anticipate. What can I say about his future?" he remarked. "When your captain plays with such tempo, it sends a strong message to the dressing room that we aim to be completely fearless and bold."

Rohit has accumulated 104 runs in four matches without reaching a fifty. Nevertheless, the Indian captain has committed to maintaining a high tempo to set the tone for the batting lineup. His strike rate of 107.21 is the highest among all Indian batsmen, alongside Hardik Pandya.

Read Also: South Africa vs New Zealand: A Semi-Final Showdown of Significance

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