India began their Asia Cup 2025 campaign in dominant fashion, crushing hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) by nine wickets and recording the fastest-ever T20I run chase by an Asian team.
Batting first, UAE were all out for just 57 runs in 13.1 overs. Kuldeep Yadav’s magical spell of 4 for 7 dismantled the opposition batting order completely.
Jasprit Bumrah set the tone with early wickets, removing opener Alishan Sharafu for 22. After that, UAE’s batting line-up collapsed against India’s bowling attack.
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Shivam Dube also starred, taking 3 wickets for just 4 runs in two overs, while spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel chipped in with crucial breakthroughs.
Chasing the modest target, India completed victory in only 4.3 overs – a total of 27 balls – winning the match with 93 balls to spare, becoming the first Asian team with quickest T20I run chase.
Before this, Sri Lanka held the record among Asian Full Member teams, defeating the Netherlands in 2014 with 90 balls to spare, however, India’s earlier quickest T20Is chase was on 81 balls.
Abhishek Sharma top-scored with 30 off 16 balls, while Shubman Gill, returning to T20 cricket, remained unbeaten on 20 off nine deliveries.
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Gill struck the winning runs off Simranjeet Singh, a bowler who had bowled to him during his teenage years, creating an ironic twist to the match conclusion.
