India Vs United Arab Emirates, Asia Cup 2025 Match 2: IND Thrash UAE By Nine Wickets In Record-breaking Opener

India launched their Asia Cup T20 campaign in emphatic style, crushing UAE by nine wickets with a staggering 93 balls to spare after a ruthless all-round display in Dubai.

The win was India’s biggest in terms of balls remaining in T20Is, surpassing their 81-ball victory over Scotland at the same venue during the 2021 T20 World Cup.

Opting to bowl first, Suryakumar Yadav’s men dismantled UAE for just 57 in 13.1 overs. Kuldeep Yadav was the star of the show with 4 for 7, while Shivam Dube (3/4) and Varun Chakaravarthy (1/4) offered incisive support. Apart from Alishan Sharafu (22) and skipper Muhammad Waseem (19), no UAE batter entered double figures as the innings imploded from 47 for 2 to 57 all out.

Abhishek Sharma Started With A Six

India’s chase was as brisk as it was clinical. Abhishek Sharma set the tone by smashing Haider Ali for six off the very first ball of the innings — becoming only the fourth Indian to do so in T20Is, after Rohit Sharma (vs Adil Rashid, Ahmedabad 2021), Yashasvi Jaiswal (vs Sikandar Raza, Harare 2024), and Sanju Samson (vs Jofra Archer, Mumbai WS 2025).

He raced to 30 off 16 balls before falling, but Shubman Gill and skipper Suryakumar Yadav closed out the chase in just 4.5 overs.

Biggest Win For India (By Balls Remaining)

The result etched India into the record books. Their win with 93 balls remaining is the second-largest margin by a Full Member team in T20Is, behind only England’s 101-ball victory over Oman in North Sound earlier this year.

The match also ended in just 106 balls, placing it among the shortest completed T20Is involving a Full Member side — behind Netherlands vs Sri Lanka (93 balls, 2014), Oman vs England (99 balls, 2024), and Netherlands vs Sri Lanka (103 balls, 2021).

With this commanding win, India not only opened their campaign with momentum but also swelled their net run rate. They next face arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday in what promises to be a marquee clash, while UAE will look to regroup against Oman on Monday.