Pressure on India to exploit advantages: Van der Dussen. (Photo Source: Chris Hyde-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
India have been performing consistently well in the ongoing Champions Trophy. They have won both their matches played against Bangladesh and Pakistan and will face New Zealand on March 2.
India have the responsibility to maximise the advantages they have in the Champions Trophy that other nations do not. Rassie van der Dussen stated at a press conference on 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,” Van der Dussen said.
“I don’t think you have to be a rocket scientist to know that. The onus would be on them to use that advantage. In a sense it puts more pressure on them because whoever is going to play them in the semi or potentially the final is going to go there and the conditions are going to be foreign – and [India] are going to be used to them.”
“The pressure would be on them to get it right because they have all that knowledge.”
India have not had to travel to play its matches, in contrast to the other seven teams in the event. In Dubai, where they will play New Zealand on Sunday, they have defeated Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Indians have already guaranteed a position in the semifinals thanks to their two victories. Dubai will host that game as well. Likewise, the final if India are involved.
India have not had to travel to play its matches, unlike the other seven teams in the event. In Dubai, where they will play New Zealand on Sunday, they have defeated Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Indians have already guaranteed a position in the semifinals thanks to their two victories. Dubai will host that game as well. If India is involved, so will the final.
The BCCI’s refusal to send its players to Pakistan due to political and security concerns is the reason for the uneven situation. It was a necessary concession to let India base themselves in a neutral location for the duration of their participation in the competition. They might have withdrawn from the tournament in the absence of that.
“It’s a strange situation,” Van der Dussen said. “I was speaking to someone at training today, and I said it’s almost been a week since we’ve played. It feels like everyone else is playing, but we’re not.
“We have so many training sessions. What’s happening today? Another training session. We have another session tomorrow, which will probably be optional.
“But it is what it is. It would have been a cracking match [against the Aussies]. They’re playing well, even though they’re missing their big three bowlers [Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood].
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