Dubai, September 10, 2025: India launched their ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 campaign in style, thrashing hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) by nine wickets at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Set just 58 runs to win, India knocked off the target in only 4.3 overs, finishing at 59/1 with a massive 93 balls to spare. Opener Sharma top-scored with a blistering 30 off 16 balls (2 fours, 3 sixes). He shared a 48-run stand with Shubman Gill, who stayed unbeaten on 20 off 9 deliveries. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav added a brisk 7 not out. The lone UAE wicket fell to Junaid Siddique.
Earlier, India captain Yadav’s call to bowl first proved decisive as UAE crumbled to 57 all out in 13.1 overs. Alishan Sharafu (22 off 17, 3 fours, 1 six) gave UAE a positive start in a 26-run opening stand with skipper Muhammad Waseem (19 off 22), however, Jasprit Bumrah’s yorker removed Sharafu in the 4th over, triggering the slide. Varun Chakravarthy dismissed Muhammad Zohaib (2), while Waseem and Rahul Chopra (3) soon followed.
The collapse was brutal: UAE lost 6 wickets for just 9 runs, tumbling from 48/4 to 57 all out.
With the emphatic win, India opened their campaign with a massive net run-rate boost, laying down an early marker in the tournament.
