It has been more than a month since India, the most followed cricket team in the world, last played international cricket. Such a long break is unusual, but now the team is back in action with the India vs UAE T20 Asia Cup 2025. While many believe the tournament mainly helps smaller Asian boards financially through India’s presence, it also gives emerging teams like the UAE a chance to test themselves against the very best.
India Return as World Champions
India’s first challenge will be against the UAE, who recently played a tri-series but failed to win a game. Still, they showed glimpses of fight, almost pulling off an upset against Afghanistan. Earlier this year, the UAE created history by winning a bilateral series against Bangladesh, but their momentum was stopped when Uganda defeated them twice in the Pearl of Africa series. Now, in the India vs UAE T20 Asia Cup 2025, they face the reigning T20 World Champions, a team that looks stronger than ever since their unbeaten run in the last T20 World Cup.
India come into the tournament with a strong squad that looks balanced in both batting and bowling. Their only minor weakness is the lack of a lower-order hitter who can also bowl, but with the depth of their batting power and the quality of their specialist bowlers, they remain one of the strongest teams in the world. Many already consider them contenders to become the greatest T20 side ever built.
For the UAE, their coach Lalchand Rajput knows what it means to challenge big teams. Interestingly, Rajput was India’s coach during their first-ever T20 World Cup campaign in 2007. Now, in the India vs UAE T20 Asia Cup 2025, he will be in the opposite camp, guiding the UAE against a team he once helped shape. If Rajput and captain Muhammad Waseem can mastermind a win over India, it would surely go down as one of the biggest upsets of the year.
Form Guide (last five completed T20Is): India: WWLWW | UAE: LLLLL
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Players to Watch
Shubman Gill returns to India’s T20I side, not just as a player but as vice-captain. He is expected to open the innings with Abhishek Sharma. Though he was away from T20Is for a while, his IPL form was outstanding, 650 runs at a strike rate of 155.87. At just 26 years old, Gill is set to play a key role as India prepare for their title defence early next year, starting with the India vs UAE T20 Asia Cup 2025.
For the UAE, left-arm spinner Simranjeet Singh is a story of perseverance. Once on the fringes of Punjab cricket in India, he ended up settling in Dubai during the Covid-19 lockdown. Now, at 35, he will be bowling against Gill, the same player he bowled to in the nets when Gill was only 12 years old. His journey from local cricket to facing the world champions in the India vs UAE T20 Asia Cup 2025 is inspirational.
Team News and Possible XIs
One of the big questions for India is about Sanju Samson’s place in the XI. If Gill opens, Samson might have to either bat out of position or sit out, with Jitesh Sharma likely to take the wicketkeeper’s slot. India will also have to decide between playing four specialist bowlers plus two allrounders, or three plus three. Playing both mystery spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy, is an option, but that would push Harshit Rana to bat at No. 8. If conditions demand balance, one spinner may have to be left out in the India vs UAE T20 Asia Cup 2025.
India (possible XI): Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy
For the UAE, captain Muhammad Waseem will open with Alishan Sharafu, while Asif Khan and Rahul Chopra will strengthen the middle order. Their bowling will rely on Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Rohid, Haider Ali, and of course Simranjeet Singh, who impressed earlier this year with figures of 4-0-24-1 in his only match. They will all have to be at their best for the India vs UAE T20 Asia Cup 2025.
UAE (possible XI): Muhammad Waseem (capt), Alishan Sharafu, Rahul Chopra (wk), Asif Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Zohaib, Muhammad Jawadullah/Saghir Khan, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Rohid
Pitch, Conditions and Stats
The Dubai pitches are expected to be fresher compared to the ones used earlier in the year when India fielded four spinners in the Champions Trophy. This time, a more balanced attack could be needed, and the heat will test both sides physically in the India vs UAE T20 Asia Cup 2025.
Stats to Note:
- India and UAE have met only once in T20Is, in the 2016 Asia Cup, where India won by nine wickets.
- UAE have also lost all three of their ODIs against India, the most recent being at the 2015 World Cup.
- Since the last T20 World Cup, India’s record stands at 24 wins and just 3 losses going into the India vs UAE T20 Asia Cup 2025.
With such dominance, India remain clear favourites, but the UAE will look to take inspiration from their coach and fight hard for a historic upset in the India vs UAE T20 Asia Cup 2025.
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