Champions Trophy: What India Can Expect From Dubai Pitches?

India will play all their Champions Trophy 2025 matches in Dubai. The pitches there were used in the ILT20, which ended on February 9, only 11 days before India’s tournament opener. Does that mean that the surfaces will be  predominantly slow? And will they wear out as the tournament progresses?

Matthew Sandery, the head curator at the Dubai International Stadium, is non-committal about the latter question. But he is confident his team has had enough time since the completion of the ILT20 to prepare the “best surfaces” at the venue where India will play their group matches and – in case they qualify – the knockouts too.

EXCLUSIVE ✍️

Dubai pitch curator shares what Team India 🇮🇳 can expect in Champions Trophy 🏏

Pitch curator Matthew Sandery in a chat with @amitkumar104

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“The wickets that we will use for the Champions Trophy will have a minimum of two weeks of recovery from their last game of ILT20,” Sandery tells ESPNcricinfo. “We will aim to provide the best surfaces possible for Dubai and its conditions. I am confident that the pitches will be suitable for ODI requirements as expected around the world.”

India are unlikely to mind if the pitches are on the slower side. They go in as favourites despite the absence of their premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who misses out due to back issues.

Pitch report for IND vs BAN Champions Trophy Clash:

The Dubai International Cricket Stadium pitch on Thursday is expected to favor fast bowlers early on, with seam movement, but will become better for batting as the match progresses. Spinners might gain impact in the middle overs if the surface slows. Dew will be a key factor in the match, which might force the captain winning the toss to bowl first, as it will aid batting under lights and weaken spinners in the second innings.

Key stats about Dubai Cricket Stadium:

The Dubai International Cricket Stadium has hosted 58 ODI matches so far, with an average first-innings total of 218. The team batting first has won 22 matches at this venue, while the team batting second has won 34.
England hold the record for the highest team total at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, scoring 355/5 against Pakistan in 2015, while Namibia recorded the lowest total, getting bowled out for 91 against the UAE in 2023. Mushfiqur Rahim’s 144 against Sri Lanka in 2018 remains the highest individual score at the venue. Shahid Afridi delivered the best bowling figures, taking 6/38 against Australia in 2009, and is also the leading wicket-taker, with 25 wickets in 14 matches. Scotland’s Richie Berrington is the top run-scorer in ODIs at the stadium, amassing 424 runs in 11 matches.

Highest scores in Dubai International Stadium:

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