The Asia Cup 2025 roared to life in Dubai with a clash that, on paper, seemed a mismatch, but still managed to deliver fireworks—albeit mostly from one side. India, returning to T20I action after a lengthy break since February, showed no signs of rust as they steamrolled the United Arab Emirates by nine wickets in what turned out to be a record-breaking encounter.
India’s dominance began right from the toss, a moment of relief for captain Suryakumar Yadav, who finally called correctly after an astonishing streak of 15 consecutive losses at the coin flip. Opting to bowl first on a fresh Dubai surface dotted with cracks and sporting 4 mm of grass, Suryakumar explained, “We’ll bowl first. Looks a nice fresh wicket. Humid also today, might be dew later. If we get an opportunity, we’re flexible to do anything but today we want to bowl. We came here early, had 3-4 good practice sessions and also a day off.”
For the UAE, captain Muhammad Waseem also admitted he would have preferred to bowl first, but took the challenge in stride. “We had a good series, took many positive points and we’re confident from that series. We’re going with a good combination with spinners and fast bowlers, and juniors and seniors,” Waseem said before the match, keen to highlight his team’s blend of youth and experience.
The UAE openers, Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu, strode out amid intense humidity and a slightly cooler evening than usual. The pitch, with its unpredictable bare patches and a short boundary of just 62 meters on one side, promised some drama. And for a fleeting moment, the UAE looked like they might make a contest of it. Alishan Sharafu, in particular, played with flair, cutting, driving, and lofting his way to 22 runs off 17 balls, including a six and three boundaries. He even took a liking to India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, clipping and driving for fours in the opening overs.
But the Indian attack soon found its groove. Jasprit Bumrah, with a trademark off-stump yorker, sent Sharafu’s stumps cartwheeling, ending the brief resistance. From there, the UAE innings unraveled at breakneck speed. Varun Chakravarthy, introduced early, struck with his very first over, and the spinners began to weave their web.
Kuldeep Yadav was the star of the show, delivering a spell that left the UAE batters bewildered. He finished with sensational figures of 4 wickets for just 7 runs, including a devastating ninth over where he picked up three wickets. The wickets tumbled: Rahul Chopra caught by Shubman Gill at long-on, Muhammad Waseem trapped LBW, and Harshit Kaushik bowled off an inside edge. The UAE’s middle and lower order simply had no answers. Shivam Dube, encouraged by coach Morne Morkel to bowl more, chipped in with a career-best 3 for 4, striking in quick succession to wipe out the tail. Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy also picked up wickets, ensuring every bowler had a say in the rout.
By the 13th over, the UAE were all out for just 57 runs—a total that barely tested the Indian side and marked one of the lowest team scores in Asia Cup T20I history. The statistics from the first innings alone were a testament to India’s bowling depth and tactical prowess. The pitch, while unpredictable, offered little respite for the UAE’s batters once the ball began to grip and turn.
India’s chase was a formality, but the manner in which they approached it was nothing short of ruthless. Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill opened the innings with intent, and Sharma wasted no time, smoking the very first ball for a six over wide long-off. The runs came thick and fast—Sharma peppered the boundary with three sixes and two fours in his 16-ball blitz, while Gill matched him stroke for stroke, finishing unbeaten on 20 off just 9 balls. Suryakumar Yadav, the skipper, even got in on the act, launching his first ball for a six.
The only blip in the chase was the dismissal of Abhishek Sharma for 30, caught off Junaid Siddique, but by that point, India needed just a handful of runs. The match ended in the 4.3rd over, with India reaching 60 for 1—making it their fastest-ever T20I win and among the quickest chases in T20I history. To put it in perspective, India won with 93 balls to spare, a record for the team and second only to England’s 101-ball margin against Oman in 2024 among Full Member nations.
The result not only gave India a dream start to their Asia Cup campaign but also showcased the depth and versatility within the squad. The playing XI featured a blend of youth and experience: Suryakumar Yadav led from the front, with Shubman Gill as vice-captain, and emerging stars like Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma in the top order. The middle order boasted the all-round talents of Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, while Axar Patel’s role at No. 8 provided crucial balance, as highlighted by experts who lauded his ability to contribute with both bat and ball.
The wicketkeeping conundrum, long a topic of debate in Indian cricket circles, seemed resolved for now, with Sanju Samson donning the gloves and likely to bat in the middle order. Jitesh Sharma, another wicketkeeping option, was also in the squad, reflecting the team’s commitment to depth and flexibility.
For the UAE, there were few positives beyond Sharafu’s brief cameo and a couple of early boundaries. Coach Lalchand Rajput, ever the optimist, had spoken before the match of the opportunity to test his charges against world-class opposition, stating, “Against India, it is tough, but also a huge opportunity. I am a Khadoos Mumbaikar—my boys won’t let India have it easy.” While the result was lopsided, the experience will serve as a valuable lesson for the underdogs, who will look to regroup and come back stronger in their remaining fixtures.
As the dust settled on a sweltering Dubai evening, India’s emphatic win sent a clear message to the rest of the tournament: the Men in Blue are back, refreshed, and ready to defend their crown with a vengeance. The challenge for their rivals now is to find a way past a team that, at least on this evidence, looks as formidable as ever in the shortest format.
