India began their Asia Cup 2025 journey in emphatic fashion, outclassing United Arab Emirates with a nine-wicket win in Dubai. The reigning world champions first bowled out the hosts for just 57 runs before wrapping up the chase in 4.3 overs, stamping their authority on the tournament right from the start.
The match belonged to Kuldeep Yadav whose variations completely unsettled the inexperienced UAE batters. He picked up four wickets, including a devastating spell that left the opposition with no answers. Shivam Dube also impressed with three wickets, while Varun Chakaravarthy, Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah chipped in to ensure the hosts had no room to breathe.
The UAE coach Lalchand Rajput admitted after the game that his side looked overawed by the occasion and the caliber of the Indian attack. He felt that the lack of exposure to such high-quality bowling was a major factor in their collapse. He also pointed out that even seasoned players find Kuldeep and Varun difficult to handle, adding that India’s bench strength was so strong that a bowler of Arshdeep Singh’s quality couldn’t even find a place in the XI.
For UAE, captain Muhammad Waseem rued the loss of wickets in clusters after a promising start. He praised India’s ability to execute their plans to perfection, calling them the best team in the world for good reason.
On the other hand, India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed satisfaction with his team’s all-round performance. He explained that his decision to bowl first was to get a sense of the conditions, which remained consistent across both innings. More importantly, he was pleased with the energy and attitude his side displayed on the field, describing the performance as clinical.
India’s win sets up an eagerly awaited clash against arch-rivals Pakistan in their next game, while UAE will look to bounce back against Oman.
