NEW DELHI: Kuldeep Yadav’s wizardry with the ball proved far too much for a hapless UAE batting lineup as India romped to a commanding nine-wicket win in their Asia Cup 2025 opener in Dubai on Wednesday. The left-arm wrist spinner, who spent most of the UK tour on the bench, showed no signs of rust as he ran through the hosts with a devastating spell.Bowling with precision and guile, Kuldeep returned stunning figures of 4 for 7 in just 2.1 overs, dismantling UAE for a mere 57 runs in 13.1 overs. India then made light work of the chase, cruising to the target in only 4.3 overs to kick off their campaign in emphatic style.
The performance earned Kuldeep the Player of the Match award — his first in T20 internationals after a long gap of seven years. His previous POTM award came way back in 2018, when he picked up three wickets in India’s victory over West Indies at Eden Gardens.“Thanks to Adrian, the trainer. I was working on my bowling and fitness, and everything is going perfectly. It’s about hitting the right length, reading the batters, and reacting to their plans. Even today, I just tried to anticipate what they’d do next,” Kuldeep said at the presentation ceremony.India’s batting effort resembled a highlight reel, with openers treating the modest chase like a glorified net session. UAE bowlers, rattled by India’s intent, struggled to land the ball in the right areas.Captain Suryakumar Yadav praised the team’s sharpness and energy: “It was a clinical performance from the boys. We wanted good attitude and energy on the field, and that’s what we got. The wicket looked good but was slightly on the slower side, so spinners had a role here.”With this resounding win, defending champions India now turn their focus to a high-voltage clash against arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday.
