India began their Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a commanding performance against the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, September 10. The spotlight was firmly on Shivam Dube, the Mumbai all-rounder who was drafted into the playing XI. He seized the opportunity in remarkable fashion, delivering his best ever bowling figures in T20 internationals. With just two overs of disciplined, fiery bowling, Shivam Dube dismissed three UAE batters while conceding only four runs. His spell broke the backbone of the opposition and helped India bundle them out for merely 57 runs in 13.1 overs.
Chasing such a modest target was never going to trouble the Indian side. They knocked off the runs in just 4.3 overs, losing only one wicket, sealing a dominant nine-wicket victory to begin their campaign on a high.
For his impactful display, Shivam Dube received the Impact Player of the Match recognition inside the dressing room. In a video later shared by the BCCI, the bowling coach Morne Morkel praised him warmly, reminding the team of their conversations about making the most of opportunities.
Shivam Dube’s teammates, delighted with his efforts, gave him a thunderous cheer but quickly turned the moment into playful banter. Captain Suryakumar Yadav cheekily insisted that the “impact player” must give a speech, while vice-captain Shubman Gill jokingly offered him a choice between “a speech or a dance”.
The good-natured teasing continued even as Morkel handed him the medal, with some players calling him “very lucky”. Eventually, Shivam Dube, smiling, addressed his teammates, saying how much he had enjoyed bowling that day. He admitted that he was eager for the chance to contribute with the ball and thanked Morkel for the faith shown in him.
Here is the video:
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While Shivam Dube’s performance set the tone, it was Kuldeep Yadav who finished off the UAE innings in style. The left-arm spinner ripped through the lower order, claiming four wickets for just seven runs in 2.1 overs. His superb figures are now the second best ever recorded by a bowler in the T20I history of the Asia Cup. For his brilliance, Kuldeep Yadav was named the official Player of the Match.
With two standout individual performances and a convincing win, India have signaled their intent early in the tournament, showing both depth and confidence in their squad.
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