India begins its Asia Cup 2025 campaign on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. The Men in Blue will face the host nation, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), at the Dubai International Stadium in a high-profile Group A clash.
The tournament will run from September 9 to 28 in the UAE. It will feature eight teams across two groups in the T20 format. It will serve as critical preparation ahead of next year's T20 World Cup.
Match Preview
India enter the match as heavy favourites, boasting a squad brimming with T20 specialists and experienced match-winners. UAE, though underdogs, will bank on home advantage and spirited performances. Dubai’s historic tracks, combined with possible dew in the evening, may tilt the utility toward the chasing team.
Squads
India (15-member squad):
- Captain: Suryakumar Yadav; Vice-Captain: Shubman Gill.
- Other Members: Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (wk), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.
- Reserves: Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal.
UAE (17-member squad):
Led by Muhammad Waseem (c), the squad includes: 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.
Team News
- India’s Suryakumar Yadav is confirmed fit to lead, while Jasprit Bumrah has also declared his availability.
- Notable absentees include Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Both of them were dropped from the final squad, generating significant chatter.
- During practice in Dubai, Shubman Gill emerged as a serious contender for the XI, with Sanju Samson possibly sidelined amid combination tests.
- The team revealed a refreshed, sponsor-less jersey that offers a classic, streamlined look.
- India also faced an off-field setback with a player ruled out due to dengue, though details remain vague about the effect on squad balance.
Weather & Pitch Conditions
Expect hot conditions in Dubai, with temperatures peaking around 36 °C (97 °F) on match day, September 10, and a hazy sun. High heat may challenge players’ stamina and favour shorter, quicker bursts of intense action.
The pitch at the Dubai International Stadium historically offers slight preference to fast bowlers—pacers claim roughly 60% of wickets. At the same time, spinners account for 40%—and batsmen chasing totals have won marginally more often.
Key Players
India
- Suryakumar Yadav (c) – T20 stalwart known for 360-degree strokeplay, Suryakumar Yadav has a pivotal role to play at No.4. A career strike-rate of 167.07 with an average of just a shade under 40 sums up how destructive he is.
- Jasprit Bumrah (Pace spearhead) – Leading Indian fast bowler, especially valuable in death overs and powerplays, widely considered among the top in T20 cricket. He averages a miserly 17.74 in T20Is and has maintained a mean economy rate of 6.27 throughout his career.
UAE
Muhammad Waseem (c & opener) – UAE’s leading T20I run-scorer, amassing 2922 runs at an average of 37.94 and strike-rate of 155.67. He is consistently strong at the top of the order and sets a good example.
Asif Khan (batter) – Another in-form UAE top-order bat, scoring 1298 T20I runs at an average of 30.18 over. Asif has an equally important role to play against the lethal Indian bowling unit.
Match Prediction: Who Will Win the Match?
India enters this fixture as commanding favourites. Their combination of explosive batting depth, world-class pace bowling, and experience under pressure aligns perfectly for T20 success, especially in foreign but familiar conditions.
UAE, while buoyed by home advantage and spirited leadership from Muhammad Waseem, lacks the consistent match-winner depth that India possesses.
Given the likely heat, spin-friendly variations, and the dew factor aiding the chase, India batting second could further tilt the balance in their favour.
Prediction: India to win, with a margin expected to be 8–10 overs if defending, or 5–7 wickets if chasing.