Rassie van der Dussen Latest to Call Out India on Unfair Advantage

South African batter Rassie van der Dussen has pointed out the significant advantage India holds in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, as the team has been based in Dubai throughout the tournament.

Speaking ahead of South Africa’s final group-stage match against England in Karachi, Rassie van der Dussen highlighted how India’s ability to train, play, and stay in one location gives them a clear edge over other teams, who have had to deal with inter-city and inter-country travel.

“If you can stay in one place, stay in one hotel, practice in the same facilities, play in the same stadium, on the same pitches every time, it’s definitely an advantage,” van der Dussen said. “I don’t think you have to be a rocket scientist to know that. The onus would be on them to use that advantage. In a sense, it puts more pressure on them because whoever is going to play them in the semi or potentially the final is going to go there, and the conditions are going to be foreign, but they [India] are going to be used to it.”

However, van der Dussen believes this advantage also comes with added pressure. “The pressure would be on them to get it right because they have all that knowledge,” he said.

If South Africa qualifies, they will either face India in Dubai on Tuesday or New Zealand in Lahore on Wednesday. When asked which venue he would prefer, van der Dussen leaned toward Lahore but maintained that the team was prepared for either scenario.

“If it’s a personal thing, I would say playing in Lahore because it’s just good to bat there. The Dubai pitch is not as high-scoring as the Lahore [pitch], but no, I don’t think it really matters,” he said. “Probably logistically it will be easier to play in Lahore. You don’t have to go through an international flight and go to Dubai and literally go to another country to play. Lahore is not too far from where we are at the moment [Karachi], so conditions are fairly similar.”

Despite the logistical challenges, van der Dussen expressed confidence in South Africa’s ability to adapt to any venue.

“As a team, team-wise, conditions-wise, we’ve got everything in the locker to adapt to what’s going to be in front of us. I’m not too worried as a team. There’s no location that will suit us better or worse,” he said.