“It’s a strange situation,” Rassie Van der Dussen remarked. At training today, I said to someone that we haven’t played in about a week. While everyone else seems to be playing, we aren’t.
India has been doing well in the Champions Trophy, which is now underway. They have defeated both Pakistan and Bangladesh, and on March 2 they will play New Zealand.
In the Champions Trophy, India has an obligation to maximize the advantages that they possess that other countries do not.
Rassie van der Dussen said during a press conference Thursday.
“If you can stay in one place, stay in one hotel, practise in the same facilities, play in the same stadium, on the same pitches every time, it’s definitely an advantage,” said Van der Dussen.
To know that, you don’t need to be an expert, in my opinion. It would be their responsibility to take advantage of that. In a way, it puts them under more strain because whomever plays them in the semifinals or possibly the championship game would travel there, in unfamiliar surroundings, and [India] will be accustomed to them.”
“The pressure would be on them to get it right because they have all that knowledge.”
While the other seven teams in the competition have had to travel to play their matches, India has not. In Dubai, they have beaten Bangladesh and Pakistan, and on Sunday they will play New Zealand. Their two wins have already secured the Indians a spot in the semifinals. It will also be held in Dubai. The outcome is the same if India is involved.
While the other seven teams in the competition have had to travel to play their matches, India has not. In Dubai, they have beaten Bangladesh and Pakistan, and on Sunday they will play New Zealand. Their two wins have already secured the Indians a spot in the semifinals. It will also be held in Dubai. The final will be held if India participates.
Political and security concerns have prevented the BCCI from sending its players to Pakistan, which is the cause of the unbalanced scenario. Providing India with a neutral base for the duration of their competition participation was an essential concession. In the absence of that, they might have pulled out of the competition.
“We train for a lot of things. What’s going on today? Another training session. Our next session is tomorrow, and it will most likely be optional.
It is what it is, though. A showdown against the Australians would have been exciting. Although they are without their three best bowlers—Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood—they are still performing well.
India
