All posts tagged: India Champions Trophy final

‘Playing only in Dubai definitely helped us’: Mohammed Shami after India’s Champions Trophy semi-final win | Cricket News

‘Playing only in Dubai definitely helped us’: Mohammed Shami after India’s Champions Trophy semi-final win | Cricket News

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Following his team’s Champions Trophy semi-final win over Australia in Dubai on Tuesday, India seamer Mohammed Shami said they benefitted from playing at only one venue in the eight-team tournament. Shami, who opened the campaign with a five-wicket haul against Bangaldesh, was the pick of the bowlers for India in the semi-final against Australia as he snapped three wickets (3/48) in his 10 overs against Steve Smith’s side. While several cricketers from other teams have raised the question of India’s unfair leverage in playing their games only at the UAE venue due to the sour geo-political relations with tournament hosts Pakistan, team India captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir had downplayed the critics. The veteran Shami, however, suggested otherwise. “It definitely helped us because we know the conditions and the behaviour of the pitch,” Shami said on Tuesday after his pivotal role in beating Australia. Story continues below this ad “It is a plus point that you are playing all the matches at one venue,” added Shami with India holding an unbeaten record …

Angry Gautam Gambhir blasts critics on India’s Dubai advantage: ‘Some people are just perpetual cribbers, man, grow up’ | Cricket News

Angry Gautam Gambhir blasts critics on India’s Dubai advantage: ‘Some people are just perpetual cribbers, man, grow up’ | Cricket News

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A day after captain Rohit Sharma dismissed any talks of India being at home in Dubai and familiar with the conditions, it was the turn of their head coach Gautam Gambhir to drive home the point even when he was not questioned about it. Speaking shortly after the four-wicket win over Australia, Gambhir was not only assertive but also typically pugnacious with most of the questions put forward. Right through the tournament which Pakistan are hosting, there have been several criticisms directed at the advantage India have gained by playing all their matches in Dubai. Now with India making it to the final, all those talks aren’t going to die down and Gambhir, who seemed bothered about it, weighed in with his thoughts in his own way. “There’s a lot of debate about the undue advantage and all that. What undue advantage? We haven’t practiced here even for a day. We’re practicing at the ICC Academy. And the conditions there and here are 180 degrees different. If you look at the wickets there and here, …

Champions Trophy | ‘Hardik’s shots at the end were crucial’: Rohit Sharma lauds allrounder after India defeat Australia in semifinal | Cricket News

Champions Trophy | ‘Hardik’s shots at the end were crucial’: Rohit Sharma lauds allrounder after India defeat Australia in semifinal | Cricket News

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India skipper Rohit Sharma lauded Virat Kohli for his crucial 84-run knock against Australia while also praising the contributions of the other batters, singling out Hardik Pandya’s huge hits at the death on his way to a quick 28 runs from 24 deliveries. On the back of these performances, India defeated Australia by 4 wickets and punched their ticket to the summit clash, scheduled for Sunday in Dubai. “Yes, he’s (Virat) done it for us for many years. We were calm during our batting innings. We wanted that big partnership, which Shreyas and Virat provided, along with smaller partnerships between Axar, Virat, KL, and Virat. And then Hardik’s shots at the end were crucial,” Rohit said after the match. He also talked about the nature of the surface, saying that it played slightly better on Tuesday than the one that was used in the last Group game against New Zealand last week. Story continues below this ad “It looked better, but that’s been the nature of the surfaces here; they’re very uncertain. The surface today …

Champions Trophy: Chase General Kohli conquers Australia, leads India’s march to final | Cricket News

Champions Trophy: Chase General Kohli conquers Australia, leads India’s march to final | Cricket News

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With a gorgeous six over long-on, from the bat of KL Rahul, India leapt over their biggest hurdle in the 50-over ICC tournaments, Australia. The stroke saw India eclipse the target of 265 with six wickets in hand and 11 balls to spare. They outmuscled, outwitted and outran Australia to fix the summit clash next Sunday. The chief protagonist was Virat Kohli, who composed a familiarly scientific 84 in chase and en route completed 8000 runs when hunting down targets alone. But it was also a triumph of collectivism, with a resourceful ensemble cast performing their roles to perfection, so much so their contributions were significant as Kohli’s in the larger context of the game. The match would be remembered for Kohli’s knock, but the contributions of the support acts could not be forgotten. Mohammed Shami bowled with precision and penetration and provided breakthroughs in critical junctures of the game. Steve Smith looked in sublime touch before the low full toss that cleaned him up. It might appear like fortune, but it clearly was not. …