It has been an unusually quiet build-up to the Asia Cup for India regardless of a T20 World Cup marketing campaign at residence looming in February-March subsequent yr. Whereas Pakistan and Bangladesh have crammed in 19 and 15 T20Is, respectively, into their calendars because the 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 world match in February-March, which straddled the T20Is towards England at residence 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 aspect final in January 2024.
However India nonetheless begins because the favorite to clinch the continental title, and its Asia Cup marketing campaign opener towards 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 apply periods within the stifling warmth that has engulfed the metropolis in temperatures hovering between 42 and 52 levels Celsius late into the afternoon.
– Dhruva Prasad
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Asia Cup 2025: India hopes to ease into rhythm with marketing campaign opener towards UAE
Regardless of taking part in simply 5 T20Is this yr, Suryakumar Yadav’s India begins as favorite to clinch the title. However it nonetheless must courageous the Dubai warmth and work out the taking part in mixture because it begins its event on Wednesday.