India may not need to deal with the issue of slow and worn-out pitches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium during their group-stage matches in the Champions Trophy. According to a PTI report, two relatively new pitches have been kept specifically for India’s matches, which could significantly impact match conditions.
India will commence their Champions Trophy journey on February 20 against Bangladesh, followed by a crucial match against Pakistan on February 23, and will conclude the group stage facing New Zealand on March 2. All three games will take place in Dubai, a location that has hosted extensive cricketing events recently.
Since hosting the Women’s T20 World Cup last year, Dubai has been the site for several major tournaments, including the men’s U-19 Asia Cup and the Emirates Cricket Board’s flagship competition, the ILT20 league, in January and February.
During the ILT20, the stadium facilitated 15 matches, featuring two key knockout matches. However, it has now been reported that two of the ten pitches at the venue were purposefully left unused during the tournament to preserve their quality for the Champions Trophy.
“There are 10 match strips at the DICS. During the group stage, there was specific instruction that those two won’t be used now and needed to be kept fresh for the Champions Trophy,” a source familiar with the situation stated to PTI.
“However, it is unknown whether either of the two was utilized for the play-offs. The goal is to ensure that it doesn’t become slow and low after excessive use, causing matches to drag on. The fresh pitches will benefit both batters and bowlers alike. ”
Expected Pitch Conditions
Historically, Dubai’s pitch has benefited fast bowlers, providing bounce and movement. However, with new strips in play, spinners—especially those who bowl at a faster pace—might be pivotal. The conditions are anticipated to create a fair competition between bat and ball, resulting in more even and engaging matches rather than slow and lethargic confrontations.
India has chosen five spinners for the tournament, with Varun Chakaravarthy recently taking the place of Yashasvi Jaiswal in the 15-member squad. Chakaravarthy made his ODI debut earlier this month against England. The other four spinners in the squad are Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Washington Sundar.
