India’s hosting of the Asia Cup 2025 has taken an ironic twist, as the “hosts” prepare to face the UAE in Dubai rather than on home soil. Yet, given the uncertainty that surrounded this tournament for months, simply having the event go ahead—and featuring both India as official hosts and the UAE as home representatives—already feels like a triumph.

This clash marks only the second T20I meeting between the two nations. Their first encounter came in the 2016 Asia Cup, when the UAE managed just 81/9, a target India chased down in 10.1 overs. That game was so one-sided that Rohit Sharma was named Player of the Match for a brisk 28-ball 39.

Nine years on, the gap between the teams has narrowed but remains significant. The UAE’s cricketing progress, primarily driven by the ILT20 and its exposure to global stars, has made it more competitive. However, India’s evolution has been more dramatic. The team’s batting culture has transformed from cautious to fearless, first under Rohit’s leadership and later accelerated by the IPL’s Impact Player rule.

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Since lifting the T20 World Cup, India has dominated the format, winning 17 of their last 20 matches, including five consecutive bilateral series—three of which were played away from home. Still, the UAE will quietly fancy their chances. India hasn’t played a T20I in over seven months, and Dubai hasn’t always been kind to them.

Memories of the 2021 T20 World Cup, where Pakistan handed India a 10-wicket defeat, and a disappointing 2022 Asia Cup campaign remain fresh. While India’s depth and resources tower over the UAE’s, the hosts will draw confidence from home conditions and ILT20 experience. An upset may be unlikely, but in cricket—and particularly in Dubai—history has shown that surprises are never far away.

India

India’s team management still has key selection calls to make, but training sessions have offered a glimpse of their plans for the Asia Cup 2025 clash against UAE. Shivam Dube looks set to secure the all-rounder’s role, aided by the grass on the Dubai surface. Behind the stumps, Jitesh Sharma is likely to don the gloves, pushing Sanju Samson out of contention. Vice-captain Shubman Gill is expected to open alongside Abhishek Sharma, while Axar Patel is penciled in at No. 8. The final spot is a spin-bowling toss-up between Kuldeep Yadav’s experience and Varun Chakaravarthy’s mystery spin.

A major talking point is Suryakumar Yadav’s form. Despite his IPL brilliance, SKY’s international numbers since early 2024—457 runs in 22 innings at an average of 22 and a strike rate nearly 20 points lower than his IPL stats—highlight a dip India hopes he can reverse.

Probable XI: Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy

UAE

For UAE, captain Muhammad Waseem remains their biggest asset. The prolific opener has scored three of UAE’s four T20I hundreds and was Player of the Series in their recent 2-1 victory over Bangladesh. Partnered with the explosive Asif Khan, UAE’s batting strength lies in these two. India’s bowlers will see Waseem’s early wicket as crucial to asserting dominance.

Probable XI: Muhammad Waseem (C), Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Asif Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Farooq, Saghir Khan, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah