Hours after India head coach Gautam Gambhir shut down the debate of India having an ‘undue advantage of playing all their Champions Trophy 2025 games in a single venue, veteran pacer Mohammed Shami opined it has been a blessing in disguise for him, personally.
Although Pakistan is the host of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, India are playing all their games in Dubai after BCCI refused to send its team across borders due to security reasons.
The decision irked a few cricketers like Naseer Hussain, Michael Atherton, Jos Buttler an Rassie van der Dussen, who took a dig at the Indian team stating the Men in Blue were given an undeniable advantage of playing all their games at the same venue.
For Mohammed Shami, who is making a comeback to an ICC tournament for the first time after 2023 ODI World Cup final, playing at a single venue has certainly helped the whole bunch to understand the conditions better.
“It has definitely helped us because we know the conditions and the behaviour of the pitch. It is a plus point that you are playing all the matches at one venue,” Mohammed Shami said after the game.
“The main thing is to gauge the conditions and know how the pitch behaves because you are playing at one venue and you can get to know it well,” added the 34-year-old pacer who took a five-wicket haul againsy Bangladesh during India’s Champions Trophy 2025 opener.
Returning from a long 14-month injury lay-off, Mohammed Shami was included in the Indian squads for both T20I and ODI series against England at home. Although he couldn’t get much success there, the Bengal pacer was spot on in Champions Trophy 2025.
In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami led from the front, picking up a five-wicket haul in the first match against Bangladesh. Although he went wicketless in the next two games against Pakistan and New Zealand but played crucial role in stopping the run-flow.
In the semifinal against Australia, Mohammed Shami was spot on with three wickets including the priced scalp of Steve Smith.
