IND vs UAE

That’s it from the match, folks. India got off to a perfect start in this Asia Cup campaign. A complete 10/10 performance with both bat and ball. Thank you for being with us throughout the coverage. This is Meeth Agrawal and Bidipto Datta, signing off on behalf of everyone at Sportskeeda. Good night!

Surya Kumar Yadav (India captain): "We wanted to see how the wicket was playing, and I think it played the same right through the match. Clinical performance from the boys! A lot of boys were here during the Champions Trophy, so they reckoned that spin would do well. And the weather helps spinners as well. It is quite hot, as you can see. Abhishek Sharma is a phenomenal batter and there is a reason why he is world no. 1 right now! We all are excited about the next game! Let's see!" 

Muhammad Waseem (UAE Captain): I think we started well as a batting team. But we lost wickets in a cluster and that cost us the game. They were a brilliant team and executed their plan very well. That's why they are the No.1 team. As a team, we have to come back stronger and learn from these mistakes. 

Kuldeep Yadav (Player of the Match, 4/7 off 2.1 overs): "Thanks to our trainer that I am looking fit and fine! It was tough to sit out at times, but I was working hard on my overall game at the backdrop. I look to hit the right length and try my best to fill in the wickets column. But reading the batter is also something I am keen on picking up!" 

FASTEST CHASE IN TERMS OF BALLS REMAINING IN T20Is (Full member nations)

101 - England vs Oman, North Sound, 2024
93 - India vs UAE, Dubai, 2025
90 - Sri Lanka vs Netherlands, Chattogram, 2014
90 - Zimbabwe vs Mozambique, Nairobi, 2024

8:24 PM Local Time, 9:54 PM IST: India win by 9 wickets and 93 balls to spare.

Abhishek Sharma - 30 (16) | Kuldeep Yadav - 4/7
Alishan Sharafu - 22 (17) | Junaid Siddique - 1/16

GAME OVER! A chase cannot get as easy as this one. A thumping win for India as they chase the target in just 4.3 overs. It's India's vice-captain, Shubman Gill, who seals the deal with a boundary with his skipper, Surya Kumar Yadav, at the other end. 

With just 58 needed, Indian openers Abhishek Sharma and Gill came out with intent to chase it inside the powerplay. And just as we expected, the No.1 T20I batter started off with a maximum followed by a boundary off the first two deliveries to send the message. Although the UAE got rid of him but it was too late. 

UAE’s innings never really took off despite a brisk start. Alishan Sharafu looked positive with a few early boundaries, but Jasprit Bumrah’s thunderbolt yorker knocked him over and set the tone. Captain Muhammad Waseem tried to steady things, yet once Kuldeep Yadav joined the attack, everything unravelled. A stunning three-wicket over spun the UAE into disarray, and Shivam Dube’s golden arm added to the misery. From 47/2, the hosts suffered a dramatic collapse, losing eight wickets for just 10 runs, finishing with 57 all out - the second-lowest total in Men’s T20 Asia Cup history.

A ruthless all-round performance, and a statement that India are here to dominate this Asia Cup.

4.3 Simranjeet Singh Kang to Shubman Gill, GAME OVER ALRIGHT! INDIA BLAZE PAST UAE! Short on off-stump. Gill stays on the back foot and punches it past the left of mid-on to pick up a 9-wicket win first up! 

4.2 Simranjeet Singh Kang to Surya Kumar Yadav, full, wide and slow outside off. Surya gets across and fetches it to deep backward square with the sweep for a single. 

4.1 Simranjeet Singh Kang to Shubman Gill, round the wicket, good length on off-stump. Knocked on the up off the front foot to wide mid-off for a run. 

3.6 Junaid Siddique to Surya Kumar Yadav, OHHHH! YOU DON'T BOWL THERE TO SURYA! SIX RUNS! Good length and on leg-stump. Surya just walks across, gets into the best possible position and sends it way over fine-leg using the pace on the ball!