As reigning world champions, India open their 2025 Asia Cup T20 campaign against minnows United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Dubai on Wednesday. The focus will primarily be on getting the balance right ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster clash against traditional rivals Pakistan.
The Men in Blue are the most successful team in the history of continental event, having eight titles to their name, and will once again enter as firm favourites, although skipper Suryakumar Yadav downplayed the tag in the captains’ presser earlier in the day.
The Indian team’s last outing in Dubai came during the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year, where they relied on four spinners on a worn surface. This time, conditions are expected to be livelier, demanding more balanced attacks. For India, which last played a T20I series in January, the Asia Cup, viewed as a precursor to the 2026 T20 World Cup just four months away, also offers a chance to shape its core.
And thus the spotlight will be on Test skipper Shubman Gill, making a comeback into the T20I team, not only as a player but with responsibility on his shoulders as SKY’s deputy. This means in all likelihood, Gill could take the opening spot, although SKY refused to reveal Sanju Samson’s role in the team going forward.
With 650 runs at a strike rate of 155.87 in the IPL, Gill’s return to the format not only bolsters the side’s batting but also adds value to the leadership group, with the 25-year-old potentially seen as an all-format leader going forward.
Gill’s inclusion also raises a pertinent question around Samson. If Gill takes the opening slot alongside Abhishek Sharma, does Samson bat at No. 3 or in the middle order, or does he get to play at all? In that scenario, this also opens the door for wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma’s re-entry into the team, although Samson has justified his dual role to near perfection in the opportunities he got to open for India.
The Indian think-tank also faces a key dilemma: whether to go with four specialist bowlers and two all-rounders, a combination that leaves little batting depth beyond No. 8, or opt for three specialist bowlers along with as many all-rounders. The four-plus-two combination would accommodate both Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy, with Harshit Rana expected to chip in at No. 8. The three-plus-three setup, however, would force one spinner out unless conditions unexpectedly favour turn, which at present seems unlikely.
Barring the Gill-Samson toss-up, India’s top-order wears a formidable look with the explosive Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order, followed by the likes of Tilak Varma, captain Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma, and Axar Patel. Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh are the frontline quicks in the line-up unless the team management swaps the left-arm quick with Harshit to add depth to the batting.
On the other hand, the UAE will bank on head coach Lalchand Rajput to at least challenge India or even script the upset of their careers. Rajput had masterminded India’s maiden T20 World Cup triumph in 2007, when the superstars of the game were not even serious about the shortest format.
For the UAE, the tournament presents a significant chance to display its skills. Skipper Muhammed Wasim will be eager to lead his side from the front with support from his opening partner Alishan Sharafu and the likes of Asif Khan and wicketkeeper Rahul Chopra, who form the crux of their batting. Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Rohid, and Haider Ali are the core of the bowling, along with left-arm spinner Simranjeet Singh.
There is hardly any head-to-head record between the two nations, with India emerging victorious by nine wickets in their only face-off in the shortest format, back in the 2016 Asia Cup.
Squads:
India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh.
United Arab Emirates: Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma, Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan D’Souza, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Matiullah Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra, Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh, Saghir Khan.