Cricket, often called the gentleman's game, is an interesting game for everyone. A sport that can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of age. Even as we enter 2025, cricket is still a passion for cricket lovers. As the Asia Cup begins in the UAE, people are eagerly waiting to see who will create new history. When the tournament reached its second day, India faced the UAE at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. After India won the toss and chose to bowl, the game started with the UAE's collapse against India. While chasing a small target of 58 runs, India won by nine wickets in just 4.3 overs. Under the pressure, the UAE batters fell and scored just 57 runs in 13.1 overs. For India, Kuldeep Yadav and Shivam Dube performed well in the bowling line, while Shubman Gill, supported by Abhishek Sharma, performed well in the batting. Kuldeep Yadav received the award for Player of the Match recognition for his outstanding effort. This breathtaking execution by India is a message to the rest of the tournament.
Disappointing UAE Batting
UAE did not have a good start. Openers Alishan Sharafu and Mohammad Waseem looked rough and were quick to learn the rules of the game. However, India quickly moved ahead and ended the lead when Jasprit Bumrah successfully eliminated Sharafu with a fantastic yorker. Soon after, Varun Chakravarthy dismissed Mohammad Sohaib in his first over, leaving the UAE at 29/2 in the fifth over.But the real downfall happened under the spin. In a devastating spell, Kuldeep Yadav defeated the captain Waseem and took three wickets in one over. By the ninth over, the UAE had fallen to 50/5. India's dominance continued as the pressure mounted.
With significant losses, Axar Patel and Shivam Dube caused damage, creating further instability for the UAE. With Dubey and Axar applying more pressure, the UAE were reeling at 52/6 by the 12th over. Towards the end of the game, the UAE's strength gradually diminished. They were bowled out for a pathetic 57 runs in 13.1 overs as the collapse came to a conclusion. A sharp googly trapped Haider Ali to end a thrilling innings, and Kuldeep Yadav finished with his fourth wicket.
India’s Masterclass Bowling
Many Indian bowlers have already established their place in the world of cricket. Today's match added some of them too, with their performance. The highly awaited Asia Cup 2025 match between India and the United Arab Emirates has been a one-sided battle, with India's bowlers controlling their opponents from the first ball. As India's attack effectively executed their plans, the UAE batting order fell under relentless pressure.
Jasprit Bumrah quickly created an atmosphere for India, with an explosive yorker that broke Alishan Sharafu's stumps immediately. In addition to giving India the lead, his energetic spell instantly put the UAE on the defensive mode. Varun Chakravarthy's dismissal of Zohaib Khan accelerated the slide, ensuring the hosts would not recover. His variations deepened the UAE’s struggles, keeping the batters guessing at the crease. But Kuldeep Yadav was the star of the show. In just a few seconds, the left-arm wrist spinner took four wickets as he attacked through the middle order. The UAE batsmen were totally surprised by his control, as he crushed the UAE's hopes of reconstruction by his incredible over of three consecutive wickets, which was similar to a hat-trick.
Axar Patel supported the attack and contributed an important wicket while giving up very few runs. The UAE's hopes of reconstruction have been crushed by his control in the middle overs. Shivam Dube put in a significant effort, including the valuable removal of Asif Khan, one of the UAE's most reliable hitters. By dismissing him, India assured that the hosts would never have a chance to recover and sealed their downfall.
India –The Unbeatable Team
India’s batting style was commendable. Starting to finishing each of them performed very well. Batters took steps to ensure there were no delays while chasing a modest 58-run target. Abhishek Sharma (30) created the mood straight away through smoothly smashing boundaries and racing forward to give India a solid start. His confident tactic ensured that the pursuit never appeared to be something to do. At the other end of the line, the cool, charming Shubman Gill (20) stabilized the innings by hitting free deliveries and skillfully changing his strike. The small target became even smaller considering his ability to enter gaps and his classical execution on the offside. The friendly Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav (7) also added a little salt to the game. After Abhishek's early wicket, SKY finished the chase in just 4.3 overs by knocking the UAE bowlers around the ground with his signature 360-degree strokeplay. India won by 9 wickets, which has become one of the fastest chases in Asia Cup history.
UAE Bowlers Under Pressure
Today is not a good day for the UAE team. They started with full confidence but couldn’t hold on in front of the giant. It was always going to be challenging for the UAE to defend a low total against a brilliant Indian squad, and their bowlers found it hard to hold the Men in Blue's firepower in check. The only breakthrough came from Haider Ali, who dismissed Abhishek Sharma with a shot that sent a slow ball in the wrong direction. In a challenging match, his variation was a rare bright spot. Simranjeet Singh threw with focus, maintaining a more precise pattern and distance, but his efforts were not generative as there was not enough pressure on the scoreboard. Another two top bowlers of the UAE, Muhammad Jawadullah and Junaid Siddique, tried to create movement under the lights, but were severely stopped whenever they deviated from their strategy.
Clash of Group A: India Vs UAE
India has already proven themselves as a dominant team, so they don’t need to worry much about the upcoming matches. However, for the UAE, they must work harder to perform better in the upcoming games and showcase their skills and talent. Indian batters displayed coolness in a low-key chase, while bowlers once again exhibited their depth. India will maintain this form throughout the more difficult matches against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. But for the UAE, the loss makes it more challenging, and it will be a lesson for them to improve for the next match. The batting slump revealed areas that need immediate focus, even though their bowlers displayed moments of professionalism. The team needs to work on their temperament and teamwork because facing strong attacks requires these qualities.