Pat Cummins questions India's venue advantage in Champions Trophy

Australian captain Pat Cummins has raised concerns over India’s exclusive venue advantage in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Although absent from the tournament due to an ankle injury and family commitments, Cummins believed that India playing all its matches in Dubai gives them a significant competitive edge over other teams.

In an interview with Yahoo Sports Australia, Cummins highlighted the advantage of playing at a single venue.

 “It’s good that the tournament continues, but it definitely gives India a big advantage to play all their matches on the same ground,” he stated.

The ICC Champions Trophy was originally planned to be hosted entirely in Pakistan.

However, due to security concerns raised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), a hybrid model was introduced.

Under this arrangement, India’s matches are being played exclusively in Dubai, while the rest of the teams compete in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi.

This decision has sparked debate, with critics arguing that India benefits from familiarity with conditions in Dubai.

Despite the controversy, India has made a dominant start to the tournament, securing their semifinal spot with convincing six-wicket victories over both Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Notably, the first semifinal is also set to take place in Dubai, reinforcing Cummins’ concerns about India’s home-ground-like advantage.