“There is nothing about…”: Indian coach shuts venue ‘Advantage’ allegations ahead of Champions Trophy 2025 final

Sitanshu shuts India's venue advantage for Champions Trophy 2025

The hype on the India’s final match against New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is crossing the roof as the clash is scheduled to be held on March 9 in Dubai. Men in Blue will enter the title deciding clash with an unbeaten campaign, while New Zealand will face that very team which gave them their single defeat in the event.

Despite India’s impressive performance, the team’s campaign has been filled with critics who are blaming the team to have an advantage by playing all their matches at the Dubai International Stadium.

The idea of India playing all their matches at a single location, while other teams having to travel has sparked the claims of an ‘unfair advantage’. However, the batting coach of Men in Blue, Sitanshu Kotak, addressed these concerns while speaking to the reporters. Sitanshu dropped down India’s advantage by stating that the venue was not altered, and was known to all the teams from the beginning.

“I don’t understand what advantage there is and what advantage we have gotten. There is nothing about the advantage. The draw was decided a long time ago. When India have won four matches, then people are thinking we have been given an advantage,” Kotak said.

“I don’t know how to respond to this. At the end of the day, you have to play good cricket. If you don’t play well, you can’t complain. If you play well, there is no point saying there was some advantage. We are practicing here, we are playing matches there. Obviously, different wickets. That is how the draw is. Nothing else can be done. It’s not like conditions were changed after coming here,” he further added.

India had a magnificent campaign in the Champions Trophy as they came out without a defeat from their Group as the table-toppers. New Zealand has also faced an illustrious campaign, with a single defeat by India itself. It will be interesting to witness what happens in the final clash.