Gautam Gambhir has finally opened up about the Undue advantage of Dubai grounds for India and called the critics as Perpetual Cribbers. The Head coach’s statement came right after India’s win over Australia in the ongoing Champions Trophy semi-final clash.
First, Captain Rohit Sharma was seen clearing the air around the ongoing undue advantage controversies for India. Hitman made a statement and gave a rock-solid answer to all who were questioning India’s win with the advantage of playing matches in Dubai.
Rohit told the reporters ahead of the semifinal clash against Australia, “Every time, the pitch is giving you different challenges. The three matches that we played here, the pitch behaved differently. This is not our home; this is Dubai. We don’t play so many matches here, and this is new for us too,”.
Some People are Perpetual Cribbers: Gautam Gambhir
The Men In Blue head coach finally addressed the ongoing Controversy around India’s winning advantage of playing all of its matches at Dubai. He responded to the claims after the post match winning conference against Australia in the semi-finals and have put the controversies to bed once and all for us.
Gambhir opened and said India hasn’t practised any sessions on the actual grounds and practices at ICC Academy. He lashed at critics and called them perpetual cribbers.
“There’s no undue advantage in India playing in Dubai. This venue is as neutral for us as it is for the others. We haven’t even practised once at this ground as of now. We practised at the ICC Academy.” Some people are just perpetual cribbers. So, I feel we didn’t have any undue advantage.”
Gambhir also shut the criticism, reminding and asking them for the stats and facts to prove the ongoing controversy. “Tell me, when and where has India played a tournament under these current Dubai conditions? I can’t remember.” He added that Dubai’s conditions were unfamiliar to all teams, including India, pointing out that the pitches don’t favor India in any special way.
Controversy around India’s Dubai matches
The controversy around India’s undue advantage started when England cricketers Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton called out for a one-venue advantage offered to India. Joining in this debate, South African batsman Rassie van der Dussen and England captain Jos Buttler have also made their remarks for the venue rebates for India.
Rassie van der Dussen
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that the ability to train and play in one place, coupled with the absence of any inter-city or inter-country travel, gives India an edge that they will be under pressure to fully exploit,”
Michael Atherton
What about the advantage India have in playing in Dubai, only in Dubai? Which seems to me to be a hard-to-quantify advantage, but an undeniable advantage.”
Jos Butler
Not really. I think it’s a unique tournament already, isn’t it, with being hosted here with one team playing in a different place but that’s not something I’m sort of worried too much about at the moment”
