India began their Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a perfect combination of ruthless skill and intensity against host UAE in their Group A match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav, India displayed their depth and dominance in the T20 format, bowling out the UAE for a mere 57 runs, then chased down the required total in just 4.3 overs with nine wickets in hand.
This match demonstrated the huge gulf in class between the cricketing giant and the associate member nation and set the tone for India in the tournament. The victory boosted India’s net run rate and displayed the strength of their bowling attack and explosive batting group.
UAE’s Batting Collapse: A Tale of Wickets Tumbling
India won the toss and chose to field, meaning the UAE were under pressure right from the start with a very disciplined bowling effort. UAE captain Muhammad Waseem got off to an aggressive start with some initial boundaries that took UAE to 41/2 at the end of the powerplay, but what followed was a spectacular collapse as UAE battled to cope with India’s varied attack.
Alishan Sharafu fell first, when Jasprit Bumrah bowled a brilliant yorker in the fourth over, and then Muhammad Zohaib was caught off Varun Chakravarthy.
The middle order gave brief resistance. Rahul Chopra was out thanks to Kuldeep, and in a brutal over, he took another three wickets, including Waseem and Harshit Kaushik, knocking UAE down to 50/5.
Dube wanted to the fun, and he took 3 wickets, including Asif, Dhruv, and Junaid Siddique in it. Axar trapped Simranjeet Singh; it was for Kuldeep to finish it off when he caught Haider Ali in the 13th over. The UAE’s total of 57 was their lowest in T20Is, and the lowest total by any team ever against India in T20Is.
This collapse was a reflection of the UAE’s inexperience against quality opposition. Despite some promise early from Waseem, who looked good against the seamers, the spin combination of Kuldeep and Chakravarthy took advantage of the spin-friendly track.
The humidity in Dubai may have contributed to a lack of clarity in thought, but the UAE’s batters never seemed playful enough to adapt. They were guilty of some poor shot selection and failed to rotate the strike. By the innings break, India had already established their dominance and was in a position to chase quickly.
India’s Bowling Masterclass: Kuldeep and Dube Shine
India’s bowlers were the heroes, with Kuldeep Yadav providing a thrilling game-changing performance of 4/7, expertly tearing apart the UAE’s middle order with his numerous variations and skill. Yadav’s three-wicket over was significant, and he showed why he is now a top-tier player for India’s T20 outfit.
Dube, although primarily a batting all-rounder, was another wow factor bowler; he claimed 3/4 and exploited the weaknesses of the UAE batters. Bumrah was economical, with only six runs in his spell and chastened away a wicket, and Chakravarthy and Axar both provided good support with a wicket apiece.
Suryakumar Yadav’s decision to bat first meant they got some dividends, especially looking at the dew and the second innings. The bowling attack was smart with off-pace and spin-bowling, keeping the UAE batters guessing.
This performance shows the depth of how India strategized, picking both wrist-spinners, Kuldeep and Chakravarthy, and for this match, on a pitch that turned, was a masterstroke.
For the UAE, the exposure for their bowlers would have been a rude awakening with lessons, though, highlighting developmental areas for improvement back in their domestic setup.
Explosive Chase and Looking Ahead: India’s Statement Win
With only 58 runs needed, India’s openers Abhishek and Gill wasted little time in letting loose on the UAE bowlers. They played with freedom from the outset, hitting boundaries at will, and wrapped up the match in under five overs. Abhishek was particularly aggressive while Gill played with class and anchored the innings. India ended with 60/1 – slightly over the target due to the team doing most of the work.
The one wicket that fell was most likely that of one of the openers, but the records show the only basis for argument is the nine-wicket winning margin, which clearly shows the one-sided nature of the match.
This victory puts India in an excellent position in Group A, with games like Pakistan on the horizon. It is unfortunate for the UAE to lose the match, but taking part in tournaments such as these will provide them with useful experience.
The captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav was pitch-perfect, and players like Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya didn’t even have to bat, enabling them to save energy later in the series.
In conclusion, India’s comprehensive victory over the UAE in the Asia Cup 2025 opener reaffirms their status as favorites. With a blend of youth and experience, they look poised to defend their title.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on how they handle sterner tests, but for now, this match was a perfect start- clinical, dominant, and entertaining.
Baishali Karmakar 
Soureesh Datta