'Advantage Of…,' Uthappa On India's Champions Trophy Venue Controversy

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Robin Uthappa and Lalchand Rajput at a book event launch [Source: @ImTanujSingh]Robin Uthappa and Lalchand Rajput at a book event launch [Source: @ImTanujSingh]

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The Champions Trophy has triggered a heated debate and no, it’s not just about the on-field action. The big talking point has been India playing all their matches in Dubai while the rest of the teams shuffle between venues.

Some call it a strategic move, others say it’s an unfair advantage. But two former cricketers, Robin Uthappa and Lalchand Rajput, have weighed in with a different perspective.

Uthappa Calls It Familiarity, Not Home Advantage

Former India opener Robin Uthappa, who was in Dubai for a book launch event – ‘Life Lessons from Cricket’ written by senior journalist Vimal Kumar and Ashish Ambasta, shared his take on the controversy.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a home advantage, but there’s definitely an advantage of familiarity,” Uthappa said.

It’s a fair assessment. Playing in the same conditions consistently does help a team settle in faster. However, Uthappa pointed out a possible solution that could have made things fairer.

He referenced former India opener Wasim Jaffer’s view that India’s matches could have been split across three venues: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah. That way, no team could claim an upper hand.

Why Didn’t India Travel to Pakistan?

The big question many are asking is: Why didn’t India travel to Pakistan like other teams?

Uthappa kept it simple: “Each country has the right to decide if they don’t want to travel to a particular nation.”

Given the geo-political tensions between the two nations, India’s decision to play in a neutral venue was expected. If that resulted in all their games being scheduled in Dubai, then that’s just how the tournament unfolded.

Rajput Highlights The Pitch Factor

Lalchand Rajput, the former India T20 World Cup-winning coach and current UAE head coach, brought in another perspective: the conditions. While some see playing in Dubai as a gift, Rajput pointed out that adapting to the pitches isn’t as straightforward as it seems.

“Pakistani pitches are flat, while Dubai is on the slower side,” Rajput noted.

This means that even though India is staying put in one city, they aren’t exactly playing on batting tracks. The slower Dubai surfaces demand skillful stroke-making and patience, which isn’t a walk in the park.

Familiarity vs Unfair Advantage

So, does India have a real advantage? Uthappa and Rajput seem to agree that while playing in one venue helps, it doesn’t necessarily make things easy. Familiarity with conditions is a factor but so is adjusting to Dubai’s unique pitches.

At the end of the day, no advantage can replace execution on the field. Whether India thrives in Dubai or faces unexpected challenges, the only thing that truly matters is how they perform between the 22 yards.