India launched their ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 campaign in style, thrashing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by nine wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. The emphatic win not only gave the former champions a perfect start but also underlined their dominance with both bat and ball.
Chasing a modest 58-run target, India wrapped up the contest in just 7.3 overs, finishing at 59/1 with 93 balls to spare. Left-handed opener Sharma led the charge with a blistering knock of 30 off only 16 deliveries, laced with two boundaries and three sixes. His aggressive approach put India firmly on course from the outset. He stitched together a 48-run opening stand with Shubman Gill, who remained unbeaten on a fluent 20 off nine balls. Captain Suryakumar Yadav chipped in with seven not out, guiding his team to the finish line with ease. The only wicket for UAE came courtesy of pacer Junaid Siddique.
Earlier, India’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss paid rich dividends. UAE began their innings positively, as openers Alishan Sharafu and skipper Muhammad Waseem added 26 runs at a brisk pace. Sharafu looked promising with 22 off 17 balls, striking three fours and a six before being undone by Jasprit Bumrah’s pinpoint yorker in the fourth over. Soon after, Varun Chakravarthy dismissed Muhammad Zohaib cheaply, reducing UAE to 29/2.
Waseem attempted to stabilize the innings, scoring 19 from 22 deliveries with three boundaries, and was involved in an 18-run stand with Rahul Chopra. However, once both batsmen fell in quick succession, UAE’s innings unraveled dramatically. Their remaining six wickets tumbled for just nine runs, as the batting line-up collapsed under sustained Indian pressure.
Kuldeep Yadav emerged as the standout bowler for India, delivering a match-winning spell of 4/7 in just 2.1 overs. He was well supported by Shivam Dube, who claimed three wickets, while Bumrah, Axar Patel, and Chakravarthy picked up one each. The collective effort saw UAE bowled out for a paltry 57 in only 13.1 overs.
With this dominant display, India not only secured an easy win but also sent a strong message to their rivals about their intent in the tournament. Their clinical all-round performance highlighted the depth and balance of the squad, making them one of the early favorites for the Asia Cup crown.
