UAE Struggle Against India as Coach Admits Team Felt Pressure of Star Power in Asia Cup 2025

India produced a commanding performance against the United Arab Emirates in Match 2 of the Asia Cup 2025 on Wednesday, September 10, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The Men in Blue completely dominated the contest, with their bowlers taking control right from the start. After winning the toss, India opted to field first, and the UAE batting lineup was unable to cope with the quality and depth of India’s bowling attack. By the 14th over, UAE was all out for a mere 57 runs, leaving fans and analysts stunned by the one-sided nature of the contest. Kuldeep Yadav and Shivam Dube were standout performers with the ball, claiming key wickets at crucial moments and putting immense pressure on the UAE batters. Their disciplined lines, clever variations, and ability to extract bounce and movement proved too much for the inexperienced opposition.

Following the match, UAE head coach Lalchand Rajput, a former Indian cricketer and member of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup-winning team, shared his honest assessment of the defeat. Rajput admitted that his team was overawed by the quality of India’s bowling and lacked the experience to compete against a lineup stacked with world-class players. “We are not used to facing bowlers of this quality and were intimidated by India’s big names. World champions can dominate any team. We did well during the powerplay, but once the spinners came on, the game changed. Even though the pitch didn’t offer much turn, bowlers like Kuldeep and Varun can trouble even the best batters. Also, the fact that Arshdeep didn’t make the playing eleven shows how deep the Indian team is,” he told the Indian Express. His comments highlighted not only the strength of India’s attack but also the depth in every department, making it difficult for any team to compete.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav praised his team’s bowlers for their dominant performance, noting that their first-innings effort made the chase much simpler. He emphasized that while spinners played a crucial role, the support from seamers like Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Shivam Dube was equally important. “Many of the players were here recently for the Champions Trophy. The pitch looked good but was a bit slow, so spinners had a role. It’s very hot right now, and Kuldeep bowled well, getting great support from Hardik, Dube, and Bumrah,” Suryakumar explained. His comments reflected the team’s overall balance and how every bowler contributed to restricting UAE to a very low total.

The win not only reinforced India’s dominance in the tournament but also helped them strengthen their position at the top of the points table. With a net run rate of 10.48, India is leading the standings and building momentum for the upcoming matches. The next challenge for the Men in Blue is against arch-rivals Pakistan on September 14 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, a high-profile match that promises to draw significant attention. Following that, India will face Oman on September 19 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi in their final group-stage encounter. Both matches will be crucial for India to maintain their position and continue their strong run in the Asia Cup.

Overall, the match against UAE was a perfect demonstration of India’s depth and versatility in bowling, their ability to dominate on subcontinental pitches, and the mental toughness required to handle pressure situations. The team’s combination of experienced campaigners and talented all-rounders has made them one of the favorites for the tournament. The victory also served as a reminder to other teams in the group about India’s quality and the challenges of facing such a balanced, well-prepared side. As the tournament progresses, India will aim to continue their winning streak, maintain momentum, and secure a place in the Super Four stage with confidence and authority.