Returning to the T20I team after playing in the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup final, Kuldeep Yadav delivered a stunning spell of 4-7 as India thrashed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by nine wickets in their first 2025 Men's Asia Cup match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
In a chilly night, UAE started promisingly well, going to 47/2 in eight overs courtesy of Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu's early hitting.
But their score came apart spectacularly. Kuldeep initiated the collapse by hitting three times in an over, setting off a miraculous meltdown in which UAE lost eight wickets for a mere 10 runs. They were bowled out for 57 in 13.1 overs — the lowest men's T20I total in history against India.
Shivam Dube (3-4) added to Kuldeep's heroics with three wickets of his own, while Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel took one each.
In return, India's pursuit was nothing but scorching. Abhishek Sharma (30 off 15) and Shubman Gill (20*) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav (7*) ripped the bowling apart to close at 60/1 in 4.3 overs. The outcome secured India not just a resounding win but also a new record for the fastest-ever successful T20I chase.
Called upon to bat first, Sharafu showed glimpses early on with edges against Hardik Pandya for boundaries, before confidently driving and lofting against Bumrah and Axar. His knock was cut short on 22 when Bumrah delivered a pinpoint yorker that flattened his off stump.
Chakaravarthy later delivered as Muhammad Zohaib dented a googly to backward point, but three boundaries off Bumrah in the last powerplay over kept the scoreboard ticking by Waseem to take UAE to 41/2.
Kuldeep then took over. Rahul Chopra played a miscued shot to long-on, Waseem was caught lbw sweeping, and Harshit Kaushik was bowled down the gate by a brilliant googly. Pressure was mounting with Dube and Axar joining in, getting Asif Khan, Simranjeet Singh, and Dhruv Parashar out.
A sporting moment of brilliance came when Suryakumar Yadav pulled out a stumping appeal off Junaid Siddique after the batter was distracted by the falling handkerchief of Dube during the run-up. Siddique's let-off didn't last long; he was soon caught out at mid-wicket, and Kuldeep completed the innings by getting Haider Ali caught behind.
Abhishek made his intentions known straight away, hitting Haider Ali over the top for a six and then a boundary. Gill, back in T20Is after more than a year, cut and glanced powerfully, including a square leg six. Abhishek provided more fireworks with two magnificent sixes off Dhruv Parashar and a pulled six off Siddique before his departure for 30.
Suryakumar got his account going in trademark style with a swish over fine leg for six, and Gill clinched the chase by taking Simranjeet Singh to the boundary, ending a one-sided performance.
Brief Scores
UAE 57 in 13.1 overs (Alishan Sharafu 22, Muhammad Waseem 19; Kuldeep Yadav 4-7, Shivam Dube 3-4)
India 60/1 in 4.3 overs (Abhishek Sharma 30, Shubman Gill 20*; Junaid Siddique 1-16)
Result: India won by nine wickets.
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