India began their Asia Cup campaign with a convincing nine-wicket victory over UAE, easily chasing down a paltry target of 58 in just 4.3 overs after bowling out the hosts for 57 – UAE’s lowest T20I total against India. Kuldeep Yadav returned to competitive action with 4 for 7, and decimated UAE’s middle-order first and foremost with a three-wicket ninth over that ruined a strong powerplay start from UAE at 41 for 2. Shivam Dube, selected at No. 8 for his batting depth, still managed to contribute three wickets and keep coming into his own as a useful medium-pacer.
Jasprit Bumrah, who bowled three overs in the powerplay for the first time since 2019, dismissed Alishan Sharafu with a yorker straight from the training sessions, but had also gone for a few boundaries. UAE started well with six fours and a six at the hands of the openers, but then the innings collapsed in unbelievable style. The last eight wickets went for just ten runs, a condemnation of the quality gap.
The chase by India was a mere formality, which they completed in 27 balls, the fastest successful chase in T20I history. The opening combination of Abhishek Sharma (30 off 16) and Shubman Gill (20* off 9) put on an explosive partnership of 48. Abhishek was playing his first major tournament for India and smashed sixes and fours before being dismissed by Junaid Siddique. Gill capped off the innings in style with a flick for six – with Suryakumar Yadav alongside him, it was a comfortable chase.
India’s team selection was interesting ahead of the match. Gill opened the batting with Abhishek Sharma. India had a formidable two-pronged wrist-spin attack in Kuldeep and Varun Chakravarthy, and the only specialist quick in Bumrah, capped off by Axar Patel. Despite having only one specialist quick, India more than compensated for it with Dube’s unexpected impact when standing up to the stumps with his bowling.
On the back of this commanding win, not only have India claimed two valuable points, but they have also signalled their intentions for the tournament. For both Gill and Abhishek, it was an old friendship newly rekindled on the international stage. For Kuldeep, this was his first successful outing on the big stage. And for India, it was complete dominance.
