New Zealand’s off-spinner, Michael Bracewell, has dismissed any suggestion that India holds an unfair advantage in the Champions Trophy by playing all their matches in Dubai. He stated that his team is “excited to test themselves in varied conditions.” India, led by Rohit Sharma, is scheduled to play all their tournament games in Dubai, including the final if they progress.
New Zealand is set to play their first match of the tournament against India on Sunday in Dubai, following two previous games in Pakistan. Some cricket figures, like South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen and former Australian captain Pat Cummins, have mentioned that India might be in a favorable position due to playing at a consistent venue, while other teams have had to travel between venues in Pakistan.
However, Bracewell brushed aside these concerns. “It is what it is,” he said. “The decision has been made, and there’s no point in focusing on it. It adds to the excitement, in my opinion, to come to a different ground and adapt to new conditions. We are looking forward to learning and playing in different environments.”
The 34-year-old believes that the pitches in Dubai are likely to favor spin bowling, emphasizing the importance of training and acclimatizing before their match against India. “The wickets here seem to offer some spin,” Bracewell commented. “It will be beneficial to adjust to these wickets quickly. We enjoyed the pitches in Pakistan.”
He further added, “I believe we have a well-rounded team capable of performing in any conditions. Our strength lies in adapting to the surface, and we hope to continue doing so. Adjusting to the surface has been a key aspect of our team’s performance, and we aim to maintain that.”
Bracewell also attributed New Zealand’s consistent success against India in ICC tournaments to the team’s approach of avoiding unnecessary pressure. He recalled New Zealand’s recent Test series victory in India, where they achieved a 3-0 win, becoming the first visiting team to win a series in India in 13 years.
He believes this Test series victory will boost the Black Caps’ confidence for their upcoming match on Sunday. “We prefer not to put excessive pressure on ourselves,” he explained. “Coming off a significant Test series win gives us confidence, and we have a strong record against India in ICC events.”
“We prefer to approach each game individually and avoid being overwhelmed by the occasion. This strategy has worked well for us in the past. We focus on playing our brand of cricket, which seems to be a good match-up against India so far,” he concluded.
Bracewell emphasized the importance of the upcoming match against India, despite both teams having already qualified for the semifinals. The result of Sunday’s game will determine the group standings. “It’s definitely a crucial game for us. Anytime you play India at an ICC event, it’s a significant event. We are excited for the game, and a win would provide significant momentum heading into the semifinal,” he stated.
