Captain Rohit Sharma remarked on Monday, "This is not our home; this is Dubai," effectively dispelling the notion that the Indian team holds an "undeniable advantage" by playing all their Champions Trophy matches at a single venue. Furthermore, reports suggest that an unfamiliar pitch awaits both India and Australia in the first semifinal of the 2025 Champions Trophy on Tuesday.

Throughout the group stage, India competed on three distinct pitches at the Dubai International Stadium. On Tuesday, they will encounter a completely new surface that has not been utilized previously, according to Cricbuzz. The pitches used in the initial three matches—against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand—tended to favor slower play, providing significant assistance to spinners. Therefore, it is unlikely that the new track will present a markedly different challenge.

The Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) has prepared the wickets at the Dubai stadium, with oversight from the International Cricket Council (ICC). The curator of the pitches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and the ICC Academy is Matthew Sandery, an Australian national.

What did Rohit Sharma say on 'Dubai advantage' claim?

The 37-year-old refuted the notion that India possessed any advantage, stating that the surfaces at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium exhibited varying characteristics.

"There are four or five different surfaces in use, each with its own distinct nature," Rohit remarked prior to Tuesday's semi-final against Australia. "While the pitches may appear similar, their behavior during play can differ significantly. Therefore, one cannot assume that 'we performed this way yesterday, so we will perform the same today.'

"We are uncertain about which pitch will be utilized in the semi-final. Regardless of the circumstances, we must adapt and assess the situation as it unfolds. This is not our home ground; it is Dubai. We do not have extensive experience playing here, so this is a new challenge for us as well."

India approaches the match with an unbeaten record, having secured victories in all their group matches. Conversely, Australia managed to win their only completed game in the group stage, while the other two were disrupted by rain.

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