India began their Asia Cup 2025 campaign in emphatic style, recording a nine-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates in Dubai on Wednesday. The chase, completed in just 4.3 overs, underlined India’s dominance and sent a strong message to rivals ahead of tougher contests in the tournament.
Electing to field first, India’s bowlers set the tone early by dismantling the UAE top order. Seamers struck in quick succession, exploiting movement off the surface and leaving the opposition reeling. The spinners maintained the pressure in the middle overs, restricting the scoring opportunities and forcing errors. UAE were bowled out cheaply, posting a total that never looked sufficient against a powerful Indian batting line-up.
In reply, India’s openers came out with an aggressive intent. From the very first ball, boundaries flowed as the pair launched into the UAE attack. The target was chased down in just 25 balls, making it one of the shortest successful run chases in Asia Cup history. The commanding display thrilled Indian supporters in the Dubai International Stadium, many of whom had turned out in large numbers to support the team.
India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, praised the bowlers for laying the foundation of the victory. “It was a clinical performance with the ball. Everyone stuck to their plans and executed with discipline. The batters then finished things off in style. Starting the tournament like this gives us confidence going forward,” he said after the match.
The star performers included India’s pace spearhead, who struck twice in his opening spell, and the lead spinner, who picked up two wickets in quick succession to dismantle the middle order. The UAE batting line-up never recovered from the early blows and struggled to stitch partnerships.
The win also gave India a significant boost in net run rate, a factor that often proves crucial in multi-team tournaments. With a packed schedule and high-quality opposition, every margin counts, and India’s efficient finish ensured they left no runs or overs unused.
For the UAE, the loss was a reminder of the gulf in quality between established cricketing powers and emerging teams. Their skipper admitted after the match that his side failed to handle the pressure. “We needed partnerships to build a platform, but we lost wickets too quickly. Against a team like India, you cannot afford such mistakes,” he said.
Despite the setback, UAE’s campaign will continue, and they will look to regroup quickly for their upcoming fixtures. For India, the focus now shifts to the tougher challenges ahead, with key matches against Pakistan and Sri Lanka expected to test their consistency and resilience.
The Asia Cup, seen as a critical preparation ground ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, has often provided dramatic contests. India’s blistering start has already raised expectations, and fans will hope that the team can maintain this momentum throughout the tournament.
With a strong bench of players and experienced campaigners leading the charge, India appear well-placed to defend their title and reinforce their dominance in regional cricket. Their opening performance has set the stage for what promises to be an exciting tournament.
Scorecard:
Scorecard: India vs UAE, Asia Cup 2025 (Group A Match, Dubai)
