It has been an unusually quiet buildup to the Asia Cup for India regardless of a T20 World Cup marketing campaign at house looming in February-March subsequent yr. Whereas Pakistan and Bangladesh have crammed in 19 and 15 T20Is, respectively, into their calendars for the reason that Champions Trophy in March, and Sri Lanka has additionally warmed up with six T20Is within the final two months, India has featured in all of 5 T20 video games in 2025.
As many as 12 members of India’s 15-member squad final featured in a global match in February-March, which straddled the T20Is in opposition to England at house and the Champions Trophy. The duo that has performed for India extra just lately—Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah—has been away from T20Is for greater than a yr. In the meantime, Jitesh Sharma is staging a comeback after representing the nationwide facet final in January 2024.
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However India nonetheless begins because the favorite to clinch the continental title, and its Asia Cup marketing campaign opener in opposition to the host United Arab Emirates (UAE) permits Suryakumar Yadav’s males to ease into the rhythm of the format. They arrived in Dubai on Thursday and held three observe periods within the stifling warmth that has engulfed the metropolis in temperatures hovering between 42 and 52 levels Celsius late into the afternoon.
Moreover the shortage of recreation time and the warmth, a brand new T20I staff mixture may additionally want getting used to. A lot has been made from Gill’s return to the format and his appointment as vice-captain, which nearly cements his place within the enjoying XI. His inclusion has put Sanju Samson’s spot as opener, alongside Abhishek Sharma, in jeopardy, regardless of the batter from Kerala notching up the second-most runs (487) for India at a scorching strike price of 171.47 for the reason that T20 World Cup final yr.
A lot has been made from Gill’s return to the format and his appointment as vice-captain, which nearly cements his place within the enjoying XI.
| Photograph Credit score:
AFP
A lot has been made from Gill’s return to the format and his appointment as vice-captain, which nearly cements his place within the enjoying XI.
| Photograph Credit score:
AFP
Going by the clues the coaching periods have thrown up, Samson might additionally lose the race for the wicketkeeper’s spot to Jitesh Sharma, who has been out-of-favour since January final yr and solely obtained a second wind after a stellar marketing campaign with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as a lower-order finisher within the second half of the Indian Premier League (IPL) this yr.
“We’re taking actually excellent care of him (Samson). Don’t fear, we are going to make the suitable determination tomorrow,” Suryakumar addressed the ‘Samson query’ jokingly, as if to assuage the issues of the massive diaspora from Kerala within the metropolis, which can be desirous to have a glimpse of its ‘native’ hero.
Perplexing situations
The pitch on the Dubai Worldwide Cricket Stadium has thrown up totally different challenges. Throughout its triumphant Champions Trophy marketing campaign right here earlier this yr, India performed two specialist seamers in Mohammed Shami and Harshit Rana, whereas Kuldeep Yadav was the lone frontline spinner within the first two video games. Varun Chakaravarthy joined Kuldeep in a two-pronged spin assault from the third recreation onwards and opted for Shami and Hardik Pandya to shoulder the tempo division, with out the cushion of a second specialist seamer.
With the pitch sporting an uncharacteristic sprinkling of inexperienced on match eve, India might revert to a single-man spin unit. For what it’s price, Kuldeep was conspicuously absent from the non-obligatory observe session held on the ICC Academy on Tuesday, whereas Arshdeep Singh had an hour-long hit within the open nets.
If Arshdeep companions Bumrah and performs because the second seamer, it stays to be seen whether or not that transfer comes at the price of batting depth (Arshdeep at No. 8) or a spinner.
If Arshdeep Singh (L) companions Jasprit Bumrah and performs because the second seamer, it stays to be seen whether or not that transfer comes at the price of batting depth (Arshdeep at No. 8) or a spinner.
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AFP
If Arshdeep Singh (L) companions Jasprit Bumrah and performs because the second seamer, it stays to be seen whether or not that transfer comes at the price of batting depth (Arshdeep at No. 8) or a spinner.
| Photograph Credit score:
AFP
If one reads into the coaching held on the eve of the match, Varun, who took catching observe and rolled his arm over, might get a look-in forward of Kuldeep if India fields only one spinner within the XI.
Exorcising ghosts
Although the competition in opposition to the UAE presents some wiggle room, India would do effectively to not tinker an excessive amount of with its lineup, contemplating it has been pushed shut by less-fancied groups resembling Afghanistan and Hong Kong previously on this match.
Although it inordinately depends on the power-hitting of skipper Muhammad Waseem and lower-order batter Asif Khan, and Haider Ali’s left-arm spin, the UAE has strung collectively robust performances of late. It took the combat to Afghanistan and Pakistan within the tri-series held in Sharjah forward of the Asia Cup after coming from behind to beat Bangladesh 2-1 in a T20I collection in Might.
India has had a poor observe document in T20I tournaments held within the UAE, with the staff exiting early on the World Cup in 2021 and the Asia Cup in 2022, and Suryakumar would need to put these reminiscences to mattress in his first multi-team occasion as captain.
With the situations sizzling and humid, and T20I outcomes right here since 2021 favouring the chasing staff 20 to 11, the toss might be essential.
Printed on Sep 09, 2025