India kicked off their Asia Cup 2025 campaign in style with a dominant win over the UAE, bowling them out for just 57 runs in 13.1 overs at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday, September 10. The Indian bowling unit, led by a sensational performance from Kuldeep Yadav, dismantled the UAE batting lineup after a steady start.
Kuldeep Yadav Breaks Records with 4/7 in Just 2.1 Overs
UAE had a brief moment of hope when openers Alishan Sharafu and Muhammad Waseem put together a 25-run partnership in the first three overs. However, the breakthrough came in the fourth over when Jasprit Bumrah cleaned up Sharafu, triggering a dramatic collapse.
From 25/0, UAE crumbled rapidly under pressure. Kuldeep Yadav was the standout performer, picking up 4 wickets for just 7 runs in 2.1 overs. This now stands as the second-best bowling figures in Asia Cup T20 history, just behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 5/4 against Afghanistan in 2022.
Here’s a look at the top bowling figures in Asia Cup T20:
- 5/4 – Bhuvneshwar Kumar vs Afghanistan, Dubai, 2022
- 4/7 – Kuldeep Yadav vs UAE, Dubai, 2025
- 4/8 – Shadab Khan vs Hong Kong, Sharjah, 2022
- 4/17 – Mohammad Nabi vs Hong Kong, Mirpur, 2016
Shivam Dube also impressed with the ball, taking 3/4, while the UAE batting lineup offered little resistance. Only the openers managed to score in double digits—Sharafu with 22 and Waseem with 19. No other batter crossed the 5-run mark.
UAE Registers Second-Lowest Total in Asia Cup T20 History
This forgettable batting performance saw UAE post the second-lowest total ever in Asia Cup T20 history. Here’s where it stands among the lowest scores in the tournament:
- 38 – Hong Kong vs Pakistan, Sharjah, 2022
- 57 – UAE vs India, Dubai, 2025
- 81/9 – UAE vs India, Mirpur, 2016
- 82 – UAE vs Bangladesh, Mirpur, 2016
India, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, had won the toss and chose to bowl first. Interestingly, the team left out their leading T20I wicket-taker Arshdeep Singh, opting instead for an extra spinner — a strategy that paid off handsomely.
This dominant performance sends a strong message from India at the start of their Asia Cup 2025 campaign, while the UAE will look to regroup quickly after a heavy defeat.
