India in the Champions Trophy was a matter of international concern. When Pakistan was selected as the host for the Champions Trophy 2025, there were questions about whether India would be part of the competition or not.
To the surprise, India in the Champions Trophy is possible, but only in the neutral venue. They decided to play all their matches in Dubai.
Dubai International Cricket Stadium
There have been questions about India playing in the Champions Trophy only at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. But there have been twists in the pitches as well.
According to sources at Hindustan Times, India will be provided fresh pitches.
Right before the start of the Champions Trophy, 15 International League ILT20 games took place in Dubai International Cricket Stadium. In order to cope with the tiring pitches, ICC has used different techniques.
India will be playing on the fresh pitches in Dubai, which won’t have much spin or turn for the spin bowlers. Not only that, but it will also be useful for India’s batting powerhouse.
What To Expect From The New Pitches?
Dubai International Cricket Stadium is one of the most iconic pitches in the world. Having hosted plenty of games, we can expect Dubai International to favor the pace bowlers, who provide some extra bounce.
Therefore, in the new pitch, you can expect some assistance from the quicker spinner who tends to zip through the cricket ball.
Looking at history, India has typically struggled in UAE pitches.
During the 2021 T20 World Cup, which was held in the UAE, India didn’t cross the group stage. This suggests that India should put behind their bad form and make an impact.
Indian Team Selection for Champions Trophy
India did not have the most effective team in the last edition of the Champions Trophy. They went on to lose the all-important final matches. Even after Dubai was selected as the match location, India went in with five spinners.
Looking at the history of Dubai International Stadium, it has helped pace bowlers most of the time. Moreover, India has played limited matches in ODI cricket after their 2023 World Cup loss.
Even in those nine games, India had 27 players, suggesting that the team in blue is always experimenting with their player pool. The recent ODI series whitewash against England might just be useful for the team.
Therefore, experts feel that India is going one spinner too many and one batter less. Only time will tell how India flares out.
India Schedule for Champions Trophy 2025
India is all set to start the Champions Trophy campaign from 20th February. They will be playing the game against Bangladesh and are expected to win the contest.
Meanwhile, the big match of India vs Pakistan will take place on 23rd February at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Fans and cricket pundits feel that it could be the match of the year.
Their last group match will be played on 2nd March 2025 against New Zealand. Only the top two teams will be moving to the semifinal stage of the tournament. With the team, India might be the one team to step into the semifinals.
