India are set to begin their Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a highly anticipated clash against the hosts, UAE, on Wednesday, September 10, at the Dubai International Stadium. This match marks a new chapter for Indian cricket, as the team enters its first major tournament without modern greats Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. The Suryakumar Yadav–led side is a clear favorite for the fixture, but the UAE players are prepared to give a shock, awaiting cricket lovers, an exciting game in the evening lights.
India’s fresh start and star-studded lineup
Led by the unorthodox batter Suryakumar, the Men in Blue are looking for a strong first outing to set the tone for their title defense. India’s squad is well-balanced, mixing seasoned players with promising youth. The fearless intent that Suryakumar brings to his captaincy is expected to define this new era.
In the batting lineup, vice-captain Shubman Gill is a potential opener alongside Abhishek Sharma. The team’s bowling attack will be spearheaded by the experienced Jasprit Bumrah while Kuldeep Yadav will be tasked with handling the spin duties in the middle overs. The sheer squad depth and star power of the Indian team make them the tournament favorite, but they will be wary of underestimating the hosts in their home conditions.
UAE’s home advantage and anticipated player battles
For the UAE players, the opening match is a massive opportunity to shine against a prominent international team. As hosts, they are entering the limelight with a lot of assurance and will be counting on the support of the local crowd and their familiarity with the Dubai International Stadium to challenge the favorites.
The UAE cricket team recently competed in a T20I tri-series against Pakistan and Afghanistan in Sharjah, which concluded just days before the Asia Cup. Unfortunately, their performance was challenging, as they lost all four of their matches. Despite the winless record, the team showed flashes of strong individual performances, particularly from captain Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu, who both scored half-centuries while chasing challenging totals. The series served as crucial preparation for the hosts, giving them a firsthand look at the quality of their subcontinent counterparts.
IND vs UAE head-to-head record in T20Is:
- Matches Played: 01 | India won: 01 | UAE won: 0 | No results: 0
IND vs UAE, Probable XI of both teams:
India: Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav
UAE: Muhammad Waseem (c), Aryansh Sharma (wk), Alishan Sharafu, Asif Khan, Zohaib Zubair, Muhammad Jawadullah, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Matiullah Khan, Rohan Mustafa
