India crushed UAE by 9 wickets, completing the chase in just 27 balls in the second match of the Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai. UAE crumbled to 57 all out, the lowest total ever against India in T20Is. India chased it down in 4.3 overs, registering their fastest chase in T20I history. The entire match lasted only 106 balls, making it one of India’s most dominant T20I wins ever.
UAE Start Strong, Collapse Fast
UAE began confidently, hitting 41 for 2 in the powerplay as openers Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu struck six fours and a six.
Jasprit Bumrah, bowling three powerplay overs in a T20I for the first time since 2019, removed Sharafu with a scorching yorker but conceded a few boundaries to Waseem.
However, after the strong start, UAE’s innings completely unraveled. They lost their last eight wickets for just 10 runs, collapsing under relentless Indian pressure.
Kuldeep Yadav’s Magical Spell
Kuldeep Yadav marked his return to action with a devastating ninth over.
First, Rahul Chopra mistimed a big shot and was caught at long-on. Three balls later, Waseem missed a sweep and was trapped lbw. Kuldeep then bowled Harshit Kaushik with a trademark wrong’un, leaving UAE in tatters at five down.
Kuldeep finished with 4 for 11, delivering a clinical performance that dismantled UAE’s middle order.
Dube Shines with Three Wickets
Shivam Dube, included for his batting depth, impressed with the ball. He took 3 for 7, making it five wickets across his last two T20Is.
One unusual moment came when Junaid Siddique was controversially given out stumped after wandering out of his crease. Captain Suryakumar Yadav showed sportsmanship by withdrawing the appeal. On the very next ball, Siddique miscued a slower delivery and was caught by Suryakumar himself.
Alongside Dube and Kuldeep, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, and Bumrah also picked up a wicket each, showcasing India’s bowling depth.
Abhishek and Gill Finish in Style
India’s new opening pair, childhood friends Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, wasted no time in the chase. They smashed 48 runs in just 3.4 overs, hitting spectacular shots, including Gill’s dancing flick for six and Abhishek’s audacious slap over long-off.
Abhishek fell with India needing just ten runs. Suryakumar Yadav arrived and smashed his first ball for six, before Gill finished the chase emphatically. India wrapped up the match without breaking a sweat, signaling their intent to dominate the tournament.
Strategic Team Choices
India’s playing XI sparked discussions before the match. Gill replaced Sanju Samson as opener, but Samson retained wicketkeeping duties ahead of Jitesh Sharma.
The team went with two wristspinners, Kuldeep and Varun, while Shivam Dube’s inclusion at No. 8 provided depth to the batting lineup. Jasprit Bumrah was the only specialist fast bowler, a decision that paid off as the spinners controlled the game.
This victory also ended India’s unusual streak of 15 consecutive toss losses across formats.