India will kick off their Asia Cup 2025 campaign on September 10 with a crucial clash against hosts UAE in Dubai. The Men in Blue enter the tournament as defending champions, chasing their ninth Asia Cup title, a record in the competition’s history. This tournament also gives them a chance to fine-tune their new-look squad ahead of future challenges.

Suryakumar Yadav Leads with Fresh Leadership

This year’s spotlight shines on India’s new leadership core. Suryakumar Yadav, famous for his fearless batting and aggressive mindset, will captain the team. Shubman Gill returns to the T20I setup as vice-captain, bringing stability to the batting lineup.

Gill’s strong IPL performance has raised expectations, and he is likely to anchor the top order alongside Suryakumar. The duo aims to give India a solid start and set the tone for a successful title defence.

Balanced Bowling Attack a Key Strength

India’s bowling unit boasts a mix of pace and spin, making it one of their biggest assets. Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace attack, delivering with the new ball and at the death.

In the spin department, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy will play vital roles in controlling the middle overs. The presence of all-rounders like Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Shivam Dube adds depth, giving India multiple options with both bat and ball.

UAE Eye Upset at Home

For the UAE, this match is a big opportunity to test themselves against a top side. Although their recent tri-series did not bring favorable results, their close contest with Afghanistan showed that they can challenge stronger teams.

Playing at home adds extra motivation. UAE will aim to push India hard and showcase their growth on the international stage.

India Aims to Make a Strong Statement

India is determined to start strong and send a message to their rivals. With a blend of experience and new leadership, Suryakumar’s men are focused on extending India’s dominance in Asian cricket.

For them, anything less than lifting the trophy will feel like an incomplete campaign.

Squads

India (Ind): Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh

UAE (UAE): Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wk), Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan D'Souza, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Matiullah Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh, Saghir Khan