ICC Champions Trophy: Indian team’s net session creates a buzz in Dubai

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Academy grounds, adjacent to the headquarters of the world governing body of the game in Dubai, is normally a quiet sanctuary for local games as well as the occasional international teams in practice. It has been, however, a different story for the past two days as the star-studded Indian squad for the ICC Champions Trophy are having intensive practice sessions there.

A motley crowd of Indian diaspora, who are expected to throng the Dubai Cricket Stadium for their three league games to start with, had been present at the entrance to the academy on both days. It was still a far cry from the hurly burly of India and a number of the players stood and obliged with autographs, as was evident on social media. No prizes for guessing that the Big Two of captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli drew the largest cheers as they passed by.

None of the Indian team members, meanwhile, are strangers to the conditions at the venue, having played two IPLs, the 2021 T20 World Cup as well as the 2022 Asia Cup at the state-of-the-art ground over the last five years itself. There has been a bit of speculation about the wickets offer at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium till head coach Gautam Gambhir and the think tank takes a look at it, more so as the Men in Blue have stacked the 15-member squad with five spinners.

Since hosting the Women’s T20 World Cup last October, Dubai has staged multiple high-profile tournaments including the men’s U-19 Asia Cup and the Emirates Cricket Board’s marquee event, the ILT20 league in January-February. However, a PTI report said that two relatively fresh pitches, unused during the recent fixtures, have been kept ready for the marquee ODI tournament.

During the ILT20, the venue hosted 15 matches, including two crucial knockout games. However, the curator’s team at the Dubai Sports City-owned stadium had in the past done a commendable job in preparing wickets which did not look tired for the World T20 in 2021 despite the rigour of hosting a substantial number of IPL 2021 games for the pandemic.

The arrival of the Indian team has created quite a buzz among the UAE cricketing community, with one of them asking if the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) can facilitate any form of interaction for the UAE senior team or juniors with the stars.

Speaking to National Herald, Chirag Suri, a former UAE vice-captain and opener said: ‘’There is no doubt that the UAE has now established itself as the most important alternative cricket venue. However, we will greatly appreciate if the ECB can approach the Indian team management to spare the likes of a batter or someone like a Mohammed Shami to hold a clinic with our budding players. It can be a lifetime experience from them.’’