India launched their Asia Cup 2025 campaign in emphatic fashion, thrashing the United Arab Emirates by nine wickets at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The one-sided contest ended in just 4.3 overs, showcasing India’s dominance with both ball and bat.
Electing to bowl first after finally winning the toss, India’s bowlers delivered a ruthless performance. Kuldeep Yadav was the standout star with a magical spell of 4 for 7, while Shivam Dube backed him up with 3 wickets for just 4 runs. UAE never recovered from the early blows and were bundled out for a paltry 57 in 13.1 overs.
India’s chase was swift and clinical. Abhishek Sharma gave the innings a flying start with 30 off 16 balls, smashing boundaries at will. Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 20 off 9 balls, guiding India home with a stylish finish. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who broke India’s 16-match toss-losing streak earlier in the day, chipped in with 7 not out as India wrapped up the win in record time.
The nine-wicket win not only boosts India’s confidence but also sends a strong message to rivals in the tournament. With both bowling and batting units firing, India looks well-poised to carry this momentum into their next group matches among which the most prominent match will be against arch-rivals Pakistan on September 14 in Dubai, a clash that promises to be the highlight of the tournament.