There's a lot of buzz about India having a big edge since they’re playing all their matches at the same venue in the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025. Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton, and Vivian Richards have pointed out that India doesn’t have to travel and knows the Dubai pitch inside and out. Before the semi-final against India, Australia’s captain Steve Smith was a bit vague about whether it’s an advantage, but he did acknowledge that India is really familiar with the conditions.

Smith mentioned that the Dubai pitch is pretty dry, which could be good news for the spinners. Just to give you some context, the pitch for the 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad was similar, and Australia managed to come out on top against India there.

India finished first in Group A after beating Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand. Meanwhile, Australia came in second in Group B, with a win over England, but their games against South Africa and Afghanistan were called off due to rain.

"When it comes to an advantage, maybe, I’m not entirely sure. India has played all their games here, so they know what to expect from the surface. The whole square is pretty dry," Smith shared with reporters at the pre-match press conference.

I just chatted with the groundsman, and he mentioned that the surface is pretty dry and has seen a lot of action. We’ve noticed how the wickets are performing, and India has been playing exceptionally well in their matches. It’s shaping up to be an exciting contest, and we’re really looking forward to it.

Australia and South Africa made their way to Dubai ahead of India’s last Group A game against New Zealand. But after India won, South Africa headed off to Lahore to face New Zealand in the second semi-final.

India is the only team in this tournament that hasn’t traveled since the competition is set up in a hybrid format. The other seven teams have either moved around different parts of Pakistan or come to Dubai to compete against India.

"We made the right call in the end. It’s great to be here with a couple of days to prepare. If we had waited for last night’s result, we would have had to fly here today and play tomorrow without any time to practice on the surface or get used to the conditions at the academy," Smith explained.

"And if we had to go back, we would have just been on the same flight as New Zealand and had only a day there before our match. So it just made sense for us," he added.

'Going up against Varun Chakaravarthy'

As we gear up for the semi-final showdown between India and Australia, all eyes are on Varun Chakaravarthy, who took five wickets against New Zealand. India is likely to field four main spinners to try and keep Steve Smith and his team in check.

Smith acknowledged that the match will hinge on how his players handle the spin on a tricky Dubai pitch.

"I don't think it's just about Chakaravarthy. Their other spinners are top-notch too. For us, the game will probably come down to how we deal with the spin, especially during the middle overs. It's definitely going to be a tough challenge. It looks like there will be some spin, and we need to be ready for it," Smith said.

Read Also: Shreyas Iyer's Unsung Heroics: Ambati Rayudu Highlights His Crucial Role in India's Middle Order

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!