Steve Smith, Gautam Gambhir after India defeat Australia in semi-finals

India’s coach Gautam Gambhir was at his ornery best after taking the microphone to sum up his side’s defeat of a weakened Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-final in Dubai.

Because of India’s refusal to send a team to Pakistan, the host country for the tournament, all their games have taken place in the UAE, at the same stadium, on similar pitches.

KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja of India celebrate after defeating Australia. Credit: Getty Images

By contrast, their opponents have crisscrossed Pakistan and the UAE. Before Tuesday night’s semi-final, Australia and South Africa were compelled to fly to Dubai in case they were drawn to play India. The Proteas then had to fly back to Lahore after qualifying for the other semi against New Zealand, which will now serve as the last game of the event in Pakistan. Sunday’s final will be in Dubai because India are in it.

When Hardik Pandya shoved Tanveer Sangha down the ground for six late in the game, the Indian chair of the International Cricket Council, Jay Shah, collected the ball and threw it back, looking less like the neutral arbiter of world cricket than a proud father of 11 cricketers. But evidently, all that talk of “undue advantage” got Gambhir steaming.

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