The cricketing world hardly ever pauses, and these past few days have been a whirlwind for both the United Arab Emirates and Indian national teams. The 2025 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Stadium saw the UAE face off against a formidable Indian side, a contest that delivered both a humbling defeat and invaluable lessons for the Emirati squad. As the dust settles from that Group A clash, attention has already shifted to India’s next big challenge: an ODI series against Australia, with major squad changes looming and high-profile veterans on the brink.
Let’s rewind to September 11, 2025, when the UAE met India in what many expected to be a lopsided affair. The scorecard, at first glance, tells a harsh story: UAE, under Muhammad Waseem’s leadership, bundled out for just 57 runs in 13.1 overs—the lowest T20I total ever recorded against India. The Indian bowlers, led by the spin wizardry of Kuldeep Yadav and the all-round prowess of Shivam Dube, made quick work of the UAE batters, securing a nine-wicket victory with a staggering 93 balls left unused. But if you tuned in from the very first ball, you’d have spotted a bright spark: UAE opener Alishan Sharafu, who showed remarkable poise against some of the world’s best bowlers.
Sharafu’s innings may not have altered the outcome, but his 22 runs off 17 balls stood as a testament to his grit and talent. Opening against Hardik Pandya, Sharafu got off the mark confidently and even managed to send a thick edge soaring over slip for four. The real test came in the next over, as Jasprit Bumrah—India’s pace spearhead—took the ball. Sharafu saw out Bumrah’s first five deliveries before flicking a wayward ball down leg for a boundary, a moment that surely felt like a personal victory against one of cricket’s most feared quicks.
Reflecting on the experience, Sharafu told Hindustan Times, “I was very confident when I went out there to bat. It was just the case of me wanting to see through the first couple of balls. Fortunately, I got two runs off my first ball, and it made it a lot easier to play the next balls that I played. These guys are such world-class bowlers, so you have to be a little more alert and a little more ready when you are about to play them.”
He was especially candid about facing Bumrah, adding, “Especially someone like Jasprit Bumrah, he has got such a short run-up and he tends to rush you at times. You don’t get bowlers who bowl that sort of quality on a daily basis, where they are just jogging off a few steps and then bowl at you at 140 clicks. It was an exciting time for me out there. I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it.”
Sharafu’s composure was on display even against Axar Patel, India’s left-arm spinner known for his skiddy deliveries. The UAE opener took eight runs off five balls from Axar, including a stunning six—an inside-out lofted cover drive that cleared the ropes and marked the first maximum of the contest. But just as he seemed set for a longer stay, Sharafu fell victim to a classic Bumrah yorker, departing as the top scorer for his side. His knock, though short-lived, was the only real resistance in an otherwise one-sided contest.
After the match, learning took center stage for the UAE players. Sharafu and his teammates sought advice from their Indian counterparts, with bowlers in particular picking the brains of India’s spinners about adapting to different batters and conditions. Sharafu also reconnected with India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, who had previously mentored him at the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in the ILT20. “We did have a bit of a chat with the Indian players. Some of our boys, especially those who are bowlers, had a bit of a chat with some of their spinners on how they approach different batters and different conditions. I personally had a chat with Ryan ten Doeschate because he was our coach at the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at the ILT20, so it was great catching up with him after a while,” Sharafu revealed.
Sharafu’s journey in UAE cricket has been nothing short of meteoric. Born in Kerala in 2003, he debuted for the UAE U19s at age 15, made his T20I debut at 17 against Iran, and his ODI bow at 18 versus Ireland. Since then, he’s amassed over 1,600 runs in 24 ODIs and 54 T20Is, a remarkable tally for someone still just 22 years old. “My journey started quite young in the UAE circuit. I started playing U-19 cricket when I was just 15. I played U-19 for a couple of years, and then I was called up to make my T20I debut when I was 17. I was then given my ODI debut next year when I was 18. After that, COVID struck, and there was a lockdown for a couple of years. Ever since, the journey has had several ups and downs,” he shared. “But I think that’s a part of every athlete’s career. It just depends on how well you take the failures and how much you are willing to learn, because, like they say in cricket, you have more bad days than good. You still have to take the positives and focus on the things you did well. Leave behind the negatives, but also importantly, you have to reflect back on that and try to improve. You wake up every day looking to get better. It has changed from when I started. It has been a pleasant journey so far. Hopefully, many more years to come and a lot more success for us as a team. Super excited for all of it.”
While the UAE look to build on these experiences, India’s focus is already shifting to their upcoming ODI series in Australia, set to begin October 19, 2025. The series is making waves due to the likely absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who is expected to be rested to manage his workload ahead of the 2027 World Cup. Ishan Kishan is likely to return as wicketkeeper, with Rishabh Pant still sidelined by injury. The selectors are also mulling a bold move: replacing Rohit Sharma as ODI captain with Shubman Gill, as Rohit’s spot in the World Cup squad is no longer assured. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both recently retired from Test cricket, are expected to return to the ODI fold, but they’ll need to prove themselves to cement their places for the World Cup.
The ODI squad for the Australia tour is expected to feature Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, and either Harshit Rana or Prasidh Krishna. With Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja both in contention as spin all-rounders, only one may make the cut given the Australian conditions and the World Cup’s venues in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Kuldeep Yadav is set to be the specialist spinner, while Mohammed Siraj will likely lead the pace attack alongside Shami and Arshdeep Singh.
As the Indian team prepares for a new era, the Asia Cup experience has underscored the ever-evolving nature of international cricket. For the UAE, Sharafu’s spirited knock and post-match insights point to a bright future. For India, the selection shake-up and the upcoming Australia series promise drama, opportunity, and plenty of talking points as eyes turn towards the 2027 ODI World Cup. The journey continues, and for cricket fans everywhere, the next chapter can’t come soon enough.