HIGHLIGHTS India vs United Arab Emirates, Asia Cup 2025, 2 T20- Result, Scorecard

Back for the chase! Both umpires are out in the middle again, followed by the players of the United Arab Emirates. Also, walk out the two openers of India where Abhishek Sharma has a new opening partner in the vice-captain, Shubman Gill. Haider Ali has the new ball in his hands, and he will start the proceedings. Here we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

And what about the United Arab Emirates’ batting? Nothing more to say. After reaching 42/1 decently in the Powerplay, they simply lost the plot. Skipper Waseem tried to anchor but failed, and the rest offered no fight at all - soft dismissals, poor shot selection, and no partnerships. Only both openers managed to get into double digits, which tells you about their batting story. Did the toss decision work? Absolutely. Surya’s call to bowl first was a masterstroke, and now India need just 58 to chase. With this kind of dominance, the second innings might be over before the United Arab Emirates blink. The chase is about to begin, so don't go anywhere.

Numerous records have been broken in the first inning, as this has been that kind of performance from both teams. So, what did India do with their bowling? They came in with fire. Jasprit Bumrah set the tone early with a searing yorker to dismiss Alishan Sharafu, while Varun Chakaravarthy chipped in as well during the Powerplay. Then came Kuldeep Yadav, in the ninth over, he took three wickets in six balls that broke the United Arab Emirates’ back. Shivam Dube’s clever variations added three more in the latter part of the inning, and Axar Patel kept the choke going when he got a chance. Every bowler contributed, making it a near-perfect performance with the ball for them.

RECKLESS? UNDER PRESSURE? What should we call this lacklustre batting display from the United Arab Emirates? But on the other side, India have been CLINICAL, blowing away their opposition for a mere total of just 57, after electing to bowl first. It was some ruthless, relentless, and razor-sharp bowling in Dubai. A demolition job from the defending champions, who hunted in packs and gave the batters no breathing space. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates’s batting was timid and fell apart like a house of cards after a promising start. In the end, it looked like a one-sided show that has left the crowd stunned at how quickly the innings crumbled.

Kuldeep Yadav to Haider Ali, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Kuldeep Yadav wraps things in style, finishing with a 4-for. He floats it fuller and slides the ball in and around off. It lands and then spins just a shy bit away from the batter. Haider Ali draws his front foot out and tries to push it to the off side, but he plays over the line and the ball sneaks between the gap of bat and pad, just taking a bit of feather of flap of the front pad, passing close to the inside edge. Sanju Samson does the rest behind the stumps. There is an appeal from the Indians, seemingly for the LBW, and the umpire raises his finger up. Now, there is total confusion in between as Ali walks up to Rohid to have a chat. And hang on, this is given caught behind. But since UAE have burnt all their reviews, they cannot go upstairs. Haider makes his way to the dugout eventually. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES HAVE BEEN BOWLED OUT ON 57!

Shivam Dube to Muhammad Rohid, Full and a bit outside off, Rohid comes forward and lifts it over cover for a couple of runs. Hardik Pandya, from mid off, hunts it down to his left.

Shivam Dube to Muhammad Rohid, Nagging length and around middle, turned it towards mid-wicket.

Shivam Dube to Junaid Siddique, OUT! CAUGHT! Junaid Siddique is gone now and the United Arab Emirates lose their ninth. On a length and outside off, Junaid backs away but he has to reach out in the end. Mistimes it off the toe end of the bat over mid on. Suryakumar Yadav runs across over his left shoulder from mid-wicket and pouches it around his chest. This has been some incredible bowling from India as Dube gets his third wicket. Also, Muhammad Rohid is the last man in for the hosts.

The UAE are in huge trouble and just haven't managed to stitch stable partnerships. Can they bat the entire quota of 20 overs?

Shivam Dube to Junaid Siddique, WIDE! Short of a length but down the leg side, Junaid Siddique shapes up for a pull shot but misses. Called a wide.

Shivam Dube to Junaid Siddique, DRAMA! Everything is happening on the field. Short of a length and outside off, Junaid Siddique has a wild heave across the line on it but misses. Junaid spots that the towel dropping from Dube's trousers hindered his concentration. And oh, there is an appeal for a run out as Sanju Samson releases an underarm throw at the batting end, and scores the direct hit. The square leg umpire has referred it upstairs. There is no bat involved for being caught behind. Now, onto the run out check. The third umpire confirms that there is nothing behind the popping crease, and he deems that Junaid is marginally short of his crease. But the skipper of India, Suryakumar Yadav, withdraws his appeal after OUT loads on the giant screen and Junaid Siddique doesn't walk out. A schoolboy error from Junaid, and the coach would not be happy with that at all. A good sportsman's spirit from the Indians, though.

Shivam Dube to Junaid Siddique, Nagging length and around off, Junaid pushes it towards cover.

Junaid Siddique is in at 10.

Shivam Dube to Dhruv Parashar, OUT! LBW! PLUMB IN FRONT! However, Dhruv Parashar has a chat with his partner and takes a review. Dube dishes out a full delivery, around off, getting to shape back in a bit as well. Dhruv plants his front leg forward a bit and looks to defend it with a straight bat, but misses. The ball sneaks past the inside edge of the bat and gets rapped low on the front pad. A loud appeal for LBW goes up, and the umpire raises his finger. The third umpire is called in, and there is nothing on the UltraEdge. Ball Tracking presents three reds, and the on-field call stays. Dhruv Parashar goes back for 1(7) and the United Arab Emirates further slip out for 54/8.

Axar Patel to Dhruv Parashar, Short and around middle, knocked down to long on for a single more.

Axar Patel to Dhruv Parashar, More pressure! Full and outside off, Dhruv drives it towards mid off but Hardik Pandya moves across to his right from short covers and cuts it off to save a single to keep Dhruv on strike.

Axar Patel to Dhruv Parashar, Short and around middle, tucked away to mid-wicket off the back foot.

Axar Patel to Haider Ali, Full and outside off, Haider comes forward and pushes it towards cover point for a single to open his account.

Haider Ali is in at 9.

Axar Patel to Simranjeet Singh, OUT! TRAPPED IN FRONT! LBW! GONE! Simranjeet Singh has a long chat with his partner before taking a review at the very last moment. Axar slows it up, full and around middle, angling in. Simranjeet Singh plants his front leg forward a touch and looks to swipe it across, but he remains in two minds and doesn't fully commit to the front foot. Misses his shot as the ball strikes him on the front pad, beating the inside edge of the bat. There is nothing on the UltraEdge and the Ball Tracking presents that it is pitching in line, impact in line as well, and the ball is projected to clip the top of the leg stump, on the umpire's call. The on-field call stays, and Simranjeet Singh has to walk back for 1 (5). Though the United Arab Emirates keep their review but they have lost their seventh wicket, just for 53. India have the full grasp of the match.

Axar Patel to Simranjeet Singh, Slower and fuller, around off, Simranjeet Singh comes forward and defends it to the right of the bowler.

Axar Patel (2-0-11-0) is back on. He replaces Kuldeep Yadav.

Shivam Dube to Simranjeet Singh, Dube bowls it full and well outside off, Simranjeet Singh plants his front leg forward and drives it off the outer half of the bat uppishly, but in the gap towards cover point for a single. Another successful over for India and the United Arab Emirates are 52/6.

Shivam Dube to Simranjeet Singh, Nagging length and outside off, Simranjeet Singh comes forward and pushes it to cover.

Shivam Dube to Simranjeet Singh, Lands it full and outside off, angling across, Singh prods forward and taps it to cover.

Simranjeet Singh is in at 8.

Shivam Dube to Asif Khan, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! A sharp catch behind the wickets and the United Arab Emirates lose their sixth. Shivam hurls it from over the wicket and pitches it up, outside off, and gets it to move away a touch as well. Asif Khan looks to go for an expansive drive, but without any footwork. Gets a thick outside edge that goes to the right of the keeper. Sanju Samson dives fully that side and plucks it with both hands and manages to keep his hands shut even after tumbling onto the ground. Dube is pumped up, and it is all going south for the hosts as they slip down to 51/6.

Shivam Dube to Asif Khan, On a good length and around off, Khan comes forward and looks to flick it at first but gets a leading edge as he gets squared up in the end. The ball dribbles away towards cover.

Shivam Dube to Asif Khan, On a length and a bit outside off, Asif prods forward and defends it into the off side.

DRINKS BREAK! India are dominating the United Arab Emirates in Dubai, having taken five wickets. The spinners, particularly Kuldeep Yadav, are performing exceptionally well, as he has claimed three wickets in just one over. The UAE batters are struggling to anticipate the turn of the ball and are unable to read Kuldeep's deliveries effectively. The United Arab Emirates are in a precarious position and cannot afford to lose any more wickets, while India continue to apply pressure. Let's see how the next phase unfolds. Here's pacer number 3 for India. Shivam Dube to bowl after the hydration break.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Dhruv Parashar, At 92.5 kph, full and spinning in from off. Dhruv looks to flick it across, but gets a thick inside edge and the ball rolls behind to short fine leg. Halfway through and United Arab Emirates are huffing and puffing currently. 51/5 on the board.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Dhruv Parashar, Flatter and quicker, on a length, just around off. Dhruv stabs it back to the bowler.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Dhruv Parashar, Given this time and this looks absolutely plumb in front. But is there an inside edge? Dhruv Parashar opts to review it. Varun lands it around the off stump line and gets the ball to turn back in sharply. Parashar takes a huge stride forward and tries to push it to the leg side, but the ball spins in sharply and raps the front pad. UltraEdge saves Dhruv Parashar as there is a clear spike when the ball is next to the inside edge.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Asif Khan, Short and on the leg stump, punched across through mid-wicket for a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Asif Khan, REVIEWED! But Asif is safe. Varun lands it on the length, and gets it to turn into the batter. Asif Khan is cramped for space and tries to work it across to the leg side, but the ball passes close to the inside edge and thuds the front thigh pad. A stifled appeal for LBW, but not given. Height, probably or maybe the ball has just spun a bit too much. Varun, though, is having a chat with his skipper and the keeper too, joins in the conversation. Eventually, this is sent upstairs for a review by the Indians. Nothing on UltraEdge and the Ball Tracking shows the ball going down the leg stump line. Not Out and India lose a review as well.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Asif Khan, Tossed it up and a bit outside off, Asif Khan prods forward and looks to drive it but gets an inside edge onto his front pad. The ball rolls away beside the strip on the off side.

Dhruv Parashar walks in next to bat.

Kuldeep Yadav to Harshit Kaushik, OUT! BOWLED! Kuldeep is wreaking havoc with the ball as he gets his third wicket in this over only! The googly is dished out again by Kuldeep. Lands it outside off and gets a sharp turn back into the batter. Harshit Kaushik, again, fails to pick the googly off the wrist and tries to play for the ball to spin the opposite side. But it folds back in and beats the inside edge to rattle the stumps behind. The United Arab Emirates have slipped from 47/2 to 50/5 down and are in heaps of trouble now.

Kuldeep Yadav to Harshit Kaushik, How did that miss the leg stump? A deceptive googly, full and on middle and leg. Harshit Kaushik pushes at the delivery with hard hands, and just does not account for the wrong' un. Gets an inside edge, and the ball sneaks past the leg stump for a couple of runs at deep fine leg.

Harshit Kaushik is the new batter in.

Kuldeep Yadav to Muhammad Waseem, OUT! LBW! A double whammy for Kuldeep Yadav and dismisses the main man of the opposition. He dishes out a flighted delivery, on a fuller length and gets just a bit of microscopic turn into the batter. Muhammad Waseem premeditates to sweep it away to the leg side, but misses, and the ball thuds on his front pad. A confident appeal for LBW and up goes the finger. Waseem, though, walks to his partner, and after a brief chat, it is reviewed. Onto the forensics, then. There is no spike on the UltraEdge, and the Ball Tracking shows the ball pitching inside the line, impact is in line, and is projected to clip the leg stump. Three reds, and that means Waseem is gone. The on-field decision stays, and Muhammad Waseem departs on 19 (22). The United Arab Emirates are reduced to 48/4.

Kuldeep Yadav to Muhammad Waseem, Slower delivery, on a length, on the leg stump. Waseem hangs deep and nudges it to the leg side.

Kuldeep Yadav to Asif Khan, On a length, just outside off, Asif rocks back and knocks it to the left of the bowler for a single. Gets off the mark, does Asif.

Asif Khan walks in at 5.

Kuldeep Yadav to Rahul Chopra, OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Something had to give, and Chopra holes out. Kuldeep offers a good bit of flight on a fuller length and turns in from middle. Rahul Chopra tries to sail that over the leg side, but does not get enough space and timing on that to work with. Airs it, but only as far as wide long on. Shubman Gill, from long on, runs to his right and takes a fine running catch. Rahul Chopra departs for 3 (7), and the United Arab Emirates are 47/3.

Axar Patel to Muhammad Waseem, Arm ball, on a length, on middle and leg. Waseem backs away and punches it back to the bowler. Another boundary-less over for the hosts. Just 2 off this over and only 6 from the last two overs for the UAE. Axar's figures read 2-0-11-0 so far.

Axar Patel to Rahul Chopra, Touch full and on middle, at 92.2 kph, swept away to deep square leg for a single.

Axar Patel to Muhammad Waseem, Full and on middle, flicked through mid-wicket for an easy single.

Axar Patel to Muhammad Waseem, Much slower, at 83 kph, full and this goes straight with the arm, outside off. Waseem switches the stance to play the reverse-sweep, but misses.

Axar Patel to Muhammad Waseem, Touch full at 88.8 kph, outside off, Waseem looks to push it away, but gets an outside edge to short third.

Axar Patel to Muhammad Waseem, Slower through the air, full and spinning away from off. Waseem sits down to sweep, but misses.

Kuldeep Yadav to Rahul Chopra, This one turns back in a touch, on middle, on a length. Rahul Chopra knocks it to the right of the bowler. Tidy start for Kuldeep! Just 4 off his opener.

Kuldeep Yadav to Muhammad Waseem, Flatter and quicker, around off, on a length. Muhammad Waseem rocks back and punches it wide of mid off for another run.

Kuldeep Yadav to Rahul Chopra, Shortens the length, on middle and leg. Rahul Chopra hangs deep in the crease and nudges it through backward square leg for a single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Muhammad Waseem, Nicely tossed up, full and just outside off, Waseem drills it down to long off for a single.

Kuldeep Yadav to Muhammad Waseem, Looped fuller and on middle. Waseem forces it out to the cover region.

Kuldeep Yadav to Rahul Chopra, A slip in place. Kuldeep dishes out full and outside off, Rahul Chopra leans forward and drives it to the left of long off for an easy single.

Change. Kuldeep Yadav is introduced into the attack right after the Powerplay.

Jasprit Bumrah to Muhammad Waseem, FOUR! Two in two for Waseem! A low full toss, onto the pads, Muhammad Waseem flicks it through mid-wicket for a boundary. The United Arab Emirates end their Powerplay on 41/2. 12 off Bumrah's third over. His figures read 3-0-19-1.

Jasprit Bumrah to Muhammad Waseem, FOUR! Wow, that's played expertly through the gap! Bumrah bowls it short and it is the off cutter, on off. Muhammad Waseem hops in the crease and cuts it over backward point, beating the deep third fielder to his right for a boundary.

Jasprit Bumrah to Muhammad Waseem, Slams the deck hard, short and outside off. Muhammad Waseem first shapes to play the ramp shot, but eventually decides to let that pass.

Jasprit Bumrah to Muhammad Waseem, Bangs it short and over the top of middle, angling in. Waseem weighs back and heaves it off the toe end to mid-wicket.

Jasprit Bumrah to Muhammad Waseem, Slants into the batter, on middle, on a length. Muhammad Waseem works it to the cover region. Rahul sniffs a single, but is sent back by Waseem. A direct hit at the non-striker's end, but no harm done.

Jasprit Bumrah to Muhammad Waseem, FOUR! Excellent shot and timing! Fuller from Bumrah, just around the off pole. Muhammad Waseem transfers the weight on the front foot, keeps his head steady, and just cracks the straight drive, beating the diving mid off fielder to his left for a boundary.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Rahul Chopra, Slower and fuller, around off, Rahul Chopra gets down on one knee and drags it with a sweep shot to backward square leg.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Rahul Chopra, Loud appeal for LBW but the umpire turns it down. Flatter, full and around off, Rahul strides forward and looks to turn it into the leg side but misses. Gets beaten on the inside edge and gets rapped a bit high on the thigh pad. Could be the impact outside off.

Rahul Chopra is in at 4.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Muhammad Zohaib, OUT! TAKEN! GONE! Varun Chakaravarthy has his man, and India are on top inside the Powerplay. Varun keeps it slower, and bowls it a tad shorter, just outside off. Muhammad Zohaib again dances down the track and looks to muscle it but into the leg side. But as the ball drifts away from the batter, Zohaib only manages to get an outside edge that lobs up towards cover point. Kuldeep Yadav backtracks a bit and pouches it around his face. The United Arab Emirates are two down for 29 inside the Powerplay.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Muhammad Zohaib, Just over! Short and around off, Muhammad Zohaib uses his feet and looks to belt it downtown. Mistimes it but gets enough power to clear Hardik Pandya at mid on. Two runs taken.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Muhammad Zohaib, Oh, beaten! Varun slows it up, pitches it up and gets it to turn away. Muhammad Zohaib strides forward and looks to just push but geta beaten on the outside edge.

Varun Chakaravarthy to Muhammad Waseem, Begins with a short ball, outside off, Waseem looks to cut it but ends up chooping it out off the inside half of the bat towards short third. A single taken.

Jasprit Bumrah to Muhammad Zohaib, From around the wicket, a slower dipping yorker, around middle, Muhammad Zohaib manages to jam it out towards cover. A successful over for India and Jasprit Bumrah.

Jasprit Bumrah to Muhammad Zohaib, Hard length and a bit outside off, Zohaib prods forward and defends it towards cover.

Muhammad Zohaib is in at 3.

Jasprit Bumrah to Alishan Sharafu, OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! Bumrah provides the first breakthrough for India. Bumrah goes wide off the crease and hits the mark, at the toes with a well-directed yorker. It is too good for Alishan Sharafu as he tries to bring his bat down, but fails to do so in time. The ball sneaks past the toe end of the bat and rattles the middle stump. Bumrah goes up in celebration, and so do his teammates. Alishan Sharafu departs after a positive start, on 22 (17), and the United Arab Emirates are 26/1.

Jasprit Bumrah to Muhammad Waseem, Short of a length and around middle, angling in, Muhammad Waseem presses back and uses the pace of the bowler to guide it over the first slip. Deep third cuts it off to his left. A single taken.

Jasprit Bumrah to Muhammad Waseem, Another slower delivery, on a length and outside off, Waseem throws his hands at it again and connects with thin air only. Nice change of pace from Bumrah.

Jasprit Bumrah to Muhammad Waseem, BEATEN! Change of pace, full and outside off, and curves back in. Muhammad Waseem makes room and looks to cut it but gets deceived by the lack of pace on it.

Axar Patel to Alishan Sharafu, Quicker, full and around middle, Alishan again backs away and slices it but finds the backward point fielder.

Axar Patel to Alishan Sharafu, SIX! EXCELLENT HIT! Axar pitches it up and outside off, Alishan Sharafu backs away, gets underneath it and clubs it inside out over covers for a biggie.

Axar Patel to Alishan Sharafu, Dragged back, outside off, dabbed down to cover off the back foot.

Axar Patel to Alishan Sharafu, In the air... but lands safely! Axar tosses it up and around middle. Alishan Sharafu comes forward, backs away and looks to go for a big lofted shot downtown, but ends up chipping it off the toe end of the bat over the bowler's head. Two runs taken.

Axar Patel to Alishan Sharafu, Nagging length and around middle, Alishan pushes it back to the bowler off the back foot.

Axar Patel to Muhammad Waseem, Slower and shorter, around middle, Muhammad Waseem comes forward and taps it beside the short mid-wicket and takes a quick single.

Jasprit Bumrah to Alishan Sharafu, FOUR! SHOT! Short of a length and angling in, around middle, Alishan Sharafu presses back, swivels and whips it to beat the diving short fine leg fielder to his left for a boundary.

Jasprit Bumrah to Alishan Sharafu, A full toss, around middle, Alishan gets surprised and only manages to drill it off the inside half of the bat to mid-wicket.

Jasprit Bumrah to Alishan Sharafu, WIDE! Another bumper, going down the leg side, Alishan Sharafu presses back and looks to hook it but misses. It is called a wide and there is an appeal for caught behind by the bowler but the umpire shakes his head. A good diving take by the keeper, Sanju Samson, to his left behind the wickets.

Jasprit Bumrah to Alishan Sharafu, Short of a length but around leg, Alishan Sharafu looks to sway away at first and then looks to play an upper cut in the end but he misses.

Jasprit Bumrah to Alishan Sharafu, Pitches it up, slower and just outside off, Alishan Sharafu uses his feet but he has to adjust his shot due to the lack of pace on it and ends up driving it to mid off.

Jasprit Bumrah to Alishan Sharafu, Hard length, over off, angling in from wide of the crease, Alishan Sharafu watches it carefully and gets on top of the bounce before dabbing it into the deck and the ball rolls away into the off side.

Jasprit Bumrah to Muhammad Waseem, Both openers are off the mark now! Full and angling in, around leg, Muhammad Waseem gets his front leg forward and tickles it to deep fine leg for a single to get off the mark.

Spin or pace? The latter. Here's Jasprit Bumrah into the attack from the far end.

Hardik Pandya to Alishan Sharafu, Nagging length and outside off, dabbed down to backward point off the back foot. A good start for United Arab Emirates as 11 runs come off the first over.

Hardik Pandya to Alishan Sharafu, A MISFIELD AND A BOUNDARY MORE! Short of a length and outside off, shaping away. Alishan Sharafu goes deep in his crease and throws his hands at it. Gets it sliced off the outer half of the bat and the ball goes uppishly towards deep third. Varun Chakaravarthy sprints across to his right and even puts in a dive, but makes a mess of it and the ball goes over the ropes.

Hardik Pandya to Alishan Sharafu, EDGED AND FOUR! A lucky boundary for Alishan Sharafu. On a length and outside off, shapingAlishan Sharafu charges down the track and looks to loft it over covers. Only manages to get a thick outside edge as the ball goes over the leaping first slip fielder for a boundary.

Hardik Pandya to Alishan Sharafu, Back of a length and over the top of the off stump, Alishan Sharafu uses his feet but gets cramped and due to an extra bounce. He adjusts his shot and chops it out towards extra cover.

Hardik Pandya to Alishan Sharafu, On a length, angling in from wide of the crease and then gets it to move away, around middle, Alishan Sharafu gets behind the line of the ball and defends it towards mid-wicket.

Hardik Pandya to Alishan Sharafu, United Arab Emirates and Alishan Sharafu are underway straightaway! Hardik pitches it up and outside off, getting it to swing away. Alishan prods forward and drives it through the gap between backward point and cover to pick up two runs to open his account. The backward point fielder mops it up.

Done and dusted with all pre-match formalities and it is time to get going. A very humid evening in Dubai, as the players make their way to the middle. Not at all a full house, maybe due to the working day, but still, a decent crowd has marked its presence in the stands. SKY leads his men out as the Indian players spread out to their respective fielding positions. Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu will open for the home side, UAE. And it will be Hardik Pandya to get things underway with the new ball. The countdown is done, and 'Let's Play' says the umpire. Off we go...

Just a few minutes left for the action to get underway here in Dubai. But before that, both sets of players are walking out, followed by the match officials, for the national anthems. It will be the UAE's first, followed by the Indian national anthem.

PITCH REPORT - Sanjay Manjrekar and Russel Arnold are pitchside for their analysis. Russel starts by sharing that it is a bit cooler in terms of heat. Points that there is a shorter boundary with the dimensions being 62 meters and 75 meters on the square. Says the batters will aim to target that shorter boundary. Observes it is rock-hard with a few bare patches as well. Details that it could be slightly two-paced and a bit unpredictable. Sanjay joins in and informs that it is newly-laid pitch. He adds that it is pretty clear to predict from which end the seamers and spinners would operate, as he spots one side being a bit bare and the other being grassy.

India (Playing XI) - Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Jasprit Bumrah.

United Arab Emirates (Playing XI) - Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Waseem (C), Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (WK), Asif Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Muhammad Rohid, Junaid Siddique, and Simranjeet Singh.

The skipper of the United Arab Emirates, Muhammad Waseem, says that they were also looking to bowl first as the pitch looks fresh and there might be some movement early on. Reflecting on the recent Tri-Series with Afghanistan and Pakistan, he mentions that the team took a lot of positives and gained confidence from those matches. Adds that today they have different plans, and the focus will be on playing good cricket. Highlights that they are going in with a balanced combination of both spinners and fast bowlers, mixing the experience of seniors with the energy of youngsters.

The captain of India, Suryakumar Yadav, says that it is a fresh wicket and a bit humid as well. Details that due to the weather conditions, there might be dew later on. Tells that they are flexible to do anything. Also highlights that it is just the first game here in the last 3-4 months. Shares that they came to Dubai a few days back and had several good practice sessions, and also a day off. Says everyone is well-prepared and everything looks fine.

TOSS - The flip of the coin lands in favour of India, and the skipper, Suryakumar Yadav, has elected to FIELD first.

So, what can we expect? India are favourites on paper, no question. But the little subplot here is fascinating - India’s selection puzzles, the United Arab Emirates’s rise as giant-slayers, and the Dubai heat that could test even the fittest players. Will it be a straightforward start to India’s campaign, or are the United Arab Emirates about to make the Asia Cup bubble a lot more interesting? The gap is still big, but the United Arab Emirates have shown that they can punch above their weight. With all of that, stay tuned for the toss and team lineups!

And the United Arab Emirates? Are they just here to make up the numbers? Absolutely not. Muhammad Waseem has been leading from the front, smashing runs even against top-ranked sides. Remember, they beat Bangladesh 2-1 earlier this year and nearly shocked Afghanistan last week. Their bowling has teeth too - Muhammad Jawadullah with the new ball, Muhammad Rohid’s left-arm pace, and Junaid Siddique’s experience make them dangerous in home conditions. Add Haider Ali’s in-form left-arm spin, and this team can frustrate even India’s powerful batting. For the United Arab Emirates, the question is - can their batters like Asif Khan, Alishan Sharafu, and Aryansh Sharma handle Bumrah, Arshdeep, and Kuldeep under lights?

What about India? The defending champions look strong, but do they have everything sorted? Not quite. The biggest headache is around selection. Who opens with Abhishek Sharma? All signs point to Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy, making his comeback at the top. If Gill opens, where does that leave Sanju Samson? Does he drop to No. 3, move into the middle, or miss out altogether? And what about the gloves? Jitesh Sharma trained long with bat and gloves, so is Samson really on the sidelines? Then there’s the bowling puzzle - four bowlers plus two allrounders, or three plus three? Playing both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy together on these sluggish pitches just might be favourable, but if they go with balance, one spinner may have to sit out. These are big calls for Surya and his think tank on night one.

What’s on the menu today? The Asia Cup 2025 finally kicks off for World T20I champions, India, as they meet the United Arab Emirates at the Dubai International Stadium in Dubai. It’s Group A action, where India, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman will battle for two Super Four spots. History? India and the United Arab Emirates have only met once in T20Is - a one-sided affair back in the 2016 Asia Cup. This time, though, the United Arab Emirates arrive with confidence, while India, the eight-time Asia Cup champions, begin their title defence. So, will it be another stroll for India, or can the United Arab Emirates script an early upset? On that note, we welcome you to the second match coverage of the Asia Cup 2025.

... MATCH DAY ...

The UAE has been cricket’s reliable friend and host for years now, from hosting the Champions Trophy earlier this year to the Asia Cup several times, and also the T20 World Cups previously. Consistently, it has delivered top-notch tournaments and memorable matches. The lavish city of Dubai gets to shine as it welcomes the Asia Cup 2025 for the first time, kicking off with an exciting Group A showdown between India and the hosts, the United Arab Emirates. It’s been quite a while since we’ve seen India in T20 action. Their last outing in the format was that dominant 4-1 series victory over England at home back in February. Before that, you’d have to rewind all the way to November 2024 and their tour of South Africa to find their previous away T20 assignment. Sure, the IPL happened in between, followed by a few domestic leagues, but international cricket brings its own unique pressures and dynamics that domestic leagues simply can’t replicate. Suryakumar Yadav leads the Indian side that has a good blend of experience and youth. All eyes will be on vice-captain Shubman Gill at the top of the order, especially after his stellar performances during that English summer, where he looked in sublime touch. The opening partner slot is where things get interesting. It’s essentially a toss-up between Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, with current form likely to be the deciding factor. Word is that Abhishek might just have his nose ahead, but these are the kind of selection dilemmas that teams love to have. The middle order reads like a who’s who of power hitters, featuring players who’ve been backing themselves to come good after getting consistent opportunities. Then there’s Hardik Pandya, the seasoned campaigner who’ll anchor the all-rounder role. With Jadeja stepping away from T20Is, Hardik becomes the most experienced player in the squad, shouldering that crucial dual responsibility. The bowling attack gets a massive lift with Jasprit Bumrah's return to T20I action following that epic 2024 World Cup final. India’s premier fast bowler is expected back to doing what he does best, which is making batters’ lives absolutely miserable. Partnering with him is Arshdeep Singh, a bowler who flies under the radar, but his control and smart bowling make him a valuable asset, whether he’s operating with the new ball or handling those pressure-cooker death overs. Dubai’s conditions are expected to offer fresher, livelier surfaces that should make for entertaining cricket. However, the region has a reputation for producing slower tracks that naturally favour spin bowling, which could influence team selection in a big way. With Kuldeep Yadav spearheading the spin department, there’s a strong possibility we could see additional tweakers like Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy getting the nod. Both bring different skill sets to the table and have proven themselves handy in these conditions. Facing them fearlessly are the hosts, the UAE. There’s plenty of talent in this squad, as glimpsed in the recently wrapped-up tri-series in Sharjah. Sure, the results didn’t fall their way, but the sparks of promise were hard to miss. Leading from the front is Muhammad Waseem - not just the skipper, but very much the spine of their batting unit. The middle order, though, carries a shade of inexperience, their most glaring vulnerability so far. This upcoming test will stretch them, and how they handle the pressure against stronger sides will define their fight. Death bowling has also been a concern, with pacers like Muhammad Jawadullah and Junaid Siddique needing to sharpen up if they are to hold their own in the closing stages. Surprisingly, these two teams have crossed paths only once before - all the way back in the 2016 Asia Cup in Mirpur. India took that one comfortably, but the landscape has shifted since. The Men in Blue still walk in as clear favourites, yet cricket has a way of tossing up the unexpected. Could the UAE carve out a shock or two in this Group A opener? All signs point to a thrilling clash under the lights at the Dubai International Stadium.