Champions Trophy: Bracewell Comments on India's Advantage in Dubai

Dubai, Feb 28 (NationPress) New Zealand’s off-spin bowling all-rounder Michael Bracewell shared his thoughts regarding India competing in all their Champions Trophy 2025 matches in Dubai, stating that it's a decision that's already been made and there's no use in lingering on it.

The choice for India to host all of its Champions Trophy matches at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, especially after being denied the opportunity to play in Pakistan, has been a topic of discussion this week. Former England captains Nasser Hussain, Michael Atherton, and Aaqib Javed, the head coach of Pakistan, have suggested that India has an advantage from the outset in comparison to other teams.

“Look, it is what it is. It's been already decided, and that's the way that it is, and there's no point dwelling on that. It's part of what makes it exciting. I personally think it is about coming to a different ground and trying to adapt to those varying conditions. Not much more to say on that, other than we're thrilled to learn and compete in diverse conditions,” stated Bracewell to reporters outside New Zealand’s training session at the ICC Academy on Friday.

New Zealand is set to face India in Dubai on Sunday, with both teams having already secured a place in the semifinals. This match will also mark Virat Kohli's 300th ODI appearance, making him the seventh player to reach this milestone, joining legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, M.S. Dhoni, Mohammed Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly, and Yuvraj Singh.

“That's obviously a significant achievement. 300 games in a career is very impressive, and to achieve that in just one format is remarkable. It speaks volumes about how he has conducted his career,” added Bracewell.

“I witnessed it firsthand at RCB - his preparation for each match is highly commendable. He’s one of many exceptional players in the Indian lineup, and they've all played a substantial amount of cricket. Therefore, they will be a formidable opponent, and we are genuinely looking forward to that challenge,” he continued.

When asked if New Zealand would underestimate their game against India, Bracewell replied, “No, it's definitely a crucial game for us. Anytime you face India at an ICC event, it's always a significant occasion. We are eager about the match, and winning it would provide a lot of momentum heading into the semifinals.”

“Navigating through the semifinals is always a challenge. Once you reach there, it becomes a one-off match and then another one-off match. It’s wonderful to be part of that, but we have a major match against India first. If we approach this as another playoff match, we'll be positioning ourselves well to seize critical moments,” he remarked.

When asked about the return of Daryl Mitchell, who missed the previous game against Bangladesh due to illness, Bracewell stated, “If Daryl is fit, I’m sure he’ll be back in the lineup. He’s had a bit of illness recently, but he seems to be in good shape now. His return would be exciting as he plays a vital role in our middle order and has performed well for a number of years.”

“I haven't been part of those discussions, but I'm confident we'll field our best team and aim for another victory. Mitch and Gary will collaborate to finalize the playing XI, as they have done in the past few games. We haven’t experienced the conditions here yet, so they will make the final decision on the team after assessing everything,” Bracewell explained.

Having just completed their first training session in Dubai, Bracewell mentioned that the team’s goal is to acclimate to the pitches as swiftly as possible.

“The pitches here appear to have some spin. We enjoyed the conditions in Pakistan, and I believe we are well-equipped to perform in any setting. Hopefully, we can maintain that adaptability and respond effectively to what’s in front of us,” he noted.

“Our strength has been our ability to adjust to the surface and provide varied looks to teams suited to that surface. I haven’t played any cricket in Dubai before, so I will focus on the practice wickets to prepare for the match,” he shared.

“As a bowler, you aim to determine which delivery is most effective on that surface and then deliver it repeatedly. Our spin bowling group boasts significant experience, with Mitch Santner leading the way. He’s a fantastic resource for discussing what works best on a specific wicket,” he concluded.