India( The COW News Digital) India kicked off their Asia Cup 2025 campaign in style, thrashing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by nine wickets in a completely one-sided contest at Dubai International Stadium. The emphatic win underlined India’s dominance and set the tone for their journey in the tournament.
Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to field first, a decision that proved decisive as his bowlers ran through the UAE batting lineup. UAE were bundled out for just 57 runs in 13.1 overs, leaving their batters struggling against India’s relentless attack.
Opener Alishan Sharafu top-scored with 22 runs while captain Muhammad Waseem contributed 19. Apart from the two, no other UAE batter managed to reach double digits. India’s spin wizard Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 4 wickets, while Shivam Dube produced a fiery spell to bag 3 scalps. The remaining wickets were shared among the fast bowlers, who maintained pressure throughout the innings.
Chasing a modest target of 58, India made light work of the run chase, reaching the target in just 4.3 overs for the loss of one wicket. Young opener Abhishek Sharma smashed 30 runs before being dismissed, while Shubman Gill (20*) and Suryakumar Yadav (7*) steered the team home with ease.
The match highlighted India’s balanced attack and clinical batting approach, showcasing why they are considered one of the tournament favorites. Fans celebrated the victory on social media, with many praising Kuldeep Yadav’s brilliant spell that dismantled UAE’s middle order.
Despite the defeat, UAE captain Muhammad Waseem urged his side to regroup quickly, emphasizing that the team will learn from the loss and aim for a stronger performance in the remaining matches of the group stage.
Both India and UAE are part of Group A, which also features Pakistan. Cricket fans around the world are eagerly awaiting the high-voltage India-Pakistan clash scheduled for September 14 in Dubai, which is expected to be one of the highlights of the tournament.
With this win, India not only opened their account with two points but also significantly boosted their net run rate, which could prove crucial as the competition moves into the later stages.
