Cheteshwar Pujara reveals the actual advantage Team India has in Champions Trophy

Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara has slammed the Indian team’s critics for considering an unfair advantage of playing at a single venue in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai. Interestingly, India made it to the grand finale against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday, March 9.

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Pujara has asserted that the real advantage Team India has is its the kind of talent they have and the number of all-rounders the team possesses. He has also stated that no one had given any statement when the schedule was released.

"I don't think so. The schedule was out there before the Champions Trophy began, the reason for the Indian team to not travel to Pakistan was the security. ICC and BCCI worked together to try and find a neutral venue. India have played against Pakistan at a neutral venue, and UAE is closer to Pakistan," Pujara told RevSportz.

"I don't think it's an unfair advantage. If India had lost, no one would've said they played in Dubai, that's why they lost. I don't think it's a home ground for India. The advantage for India is the kind of talent they have, the number of all-rounders they have," Pujara added.

“I think we have the best balance” - Cheteshwar Pujara

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Moreover, Pujara also applauded the Indian team’s decision to fly to Dubai with five spinners. Notably, India has five spinners in the squad namely Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy and Washington Sundar.

"We have Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, we have Kuldeep and Varun. We have four quality spinners. If we look at other teams, they have two, that's why they are struggling in UAE as well as Pakistan,” Pujara applauded. 

"I think we have the best balance, we have better all-rounders. We have Hardik, who is another all-rounder. Then, you have the top-order, and the batting. So, it's the balance of the Indian team which has made the side successful, rather than the venue,” he concluded.

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