The United Arab Emirates (UAE) endured a brutal reality check in their opening encounter of the 2025 Asia Cup, suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of defending champions India in Dubai on Wednesday.
Bowled out for a paltry 57 runs in just 13.1 overs, the UAE had no answers to India’s spin-heavy attack, before the men in blue chased down the modest target in only 4.5 overs.
Speaking after the one-sided contest, UAE coach Lalchand Rajput acknowledged that his players were overwhelmed by the sheer quality and reputation of India’s world-class bowling unit.
“They never play such kind of bowlers; they were overawed by the big names,” said Rajput, himself a former India cricketer and coach.
India’s Spin Trap
India, which entered the tournament as reigning Asian and world champions, opted for an unusual strategy by fielding a spin-dominant attack.
The team included only one specialist fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, while leaving out left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh — a decision that highlighted the incredible depth in India’s bowling resources.
The gamble paid off handsomely. Kuldeep Yadav, operating with his trademark guile and variations, tore through the UAE’s middle order to claim four wickets in a devastating spell.
The collapse began early when Bumrah (1/19) and Varun Chakaravarthy (1/4) struck in the powerplay, breaking UAE’s brief resistance. From there, all-rounder Shivam Dube (3/4) dismantled the middle overs, ably supported by Axar Patel (1/13).
Rajput admitted that even experienced international batters often struggle against Kuldeep and Varun, making it an impossible task for the inexperienced UAE line-up.
“World champions will crush teams. It was good till the power play, but once the spinners started operating, everything changed.
There was not much turn, but when it’s Kuldeep and Varun, even top batters struggle. Also, if someone like Arshdeep can’t even make the playing eleven, it tells you about the depth of the Indian team,” he remarked.
Suryakumar Applauds ‘Clinical’ Team Effort
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav hailed his team’s professionalism and intensity after the thumping win.
“It was a clinical performance from the boys.
We wanted to see how the wicket was playing. The attitude and energy in the field were exactly what we wanted,” said Yadav, who praised his bowlers for adapting quickly to conditions.
India had not played any competitive cricket for over a month, following their taxing five-Test series in England, and this was also their first T20I outing since February. Yet, the team showed no signs of rustiness.
“The wicket looked good but was on the slower side, which gave our spinners a role to play. Kuldeep was outstanding, and he got excellent support from Hardik, Dube, and Bumrah. Recently, a lot of us were here for the Champions Trophy, so the boys were familiar with the conditions.
Yes, it’s very hot here, but everyone adjusted well,” the skipper said.
Yadav also singled out young opener Abhishek Sharma for special praise. Abhishek, the current world No. 1 T20I batter, blazed his way to 30 runs off just 16 deliveries, setting the tone alongside Shubman Gill, who remained unbeaten on 20 from nine balls.
Their aggressive approach ensured India wrapped up the match even before the conclusion of the power play.
“He (Abhishek) is currently the world’s number one batter for a reason. He sets the tone, whether we’re chasing 200 or 50. His knock was unbelievable. Everyone is already excited for the next clash against Pakistan,” said Yadav.
UAE Left Searching for Answers
For the UAE, the evening was one of frustration and missed opportunities. Skipper Muhammad Waseem admitted that his side’s inability to build partnerships led to their downfall.
“We started well as a batting unit, but losing wickets in clusters cost us the game. India is a brilliant team; they executed their bowling plans perfectly for each batter, and that’s why they are the No. 1 side in the world,” Waseem conceded.
The crushing loss underlined the gulf between cricket’s elite and its emerging nations. For India, it was the perfect warm-up ahead of the high-voltage encounter against arch-rivals Pakistan. For the Uthe AE, it was a harsh lesson in the ruthless standards of top-level international cricket.
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With agency inputs