Team India opened the Asia Cup 2025 on a high note, defeating the UAE in Dubai on Wednesday, September 10. In a lopsided match, the Men in Blue thrashed a defenseless UAE team by nine wickets.
Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and decided to field first. With their innings lasting just 13.1 overs, the UAE’s performance was a complete failure. A pitiful 57 were left when they were skittled out. India easily defeated the little target, therefore it was a breeze for them.
They achieved a statement victory by finishing the chase inside the powerplay itself. The Indian squad earned their first points of the tournament without exerting much effort, but the UAE had a nightmare.
They will be very confident going into their next match against bitter rivals Pakistan after playing a flawless game first.
On that point, here are four records/milestones set by India in their amazing triumph over the UAE.
1. Biggest win by balls to spare in T20Is
India won the game with 93 balls left after completing the chase in only 4.3 overs. Notably, this is their largest T20I victory by balls to spare. At the 2021 T20 World Cup, they defeated Scotland with 81 balls remaining, which was their previous best.
All things considered, this is the second-largest victory by balls left in T20Is among all of the participating countries. The record is held by England, which defeated Oman in 2024 with 101 balls left.
2. Fastest chase by India in T20Is
The Men in Blue reduced the UAE’s 58-run target to only 4.3 overs. Shubman Gill, his opening partner, was undefeated at 20 after nine balls, but Abhishek Sharma hammered a 30 off 16 balls. With seven runs off of two deliveries, captain Suryakumar Yadav was still undefeated.
They surpassed their previous best of 5.3 overs, set against Australia in Ranchi in 2017, to record their fastest chase in T20Is. In a rain-shortened match, they were given a revised aim of 49 runs.
3. First team to bowl two different opponents for less than 60 in consecutive Asia Cup matches
India became the first team to dismiss two opponents for fewer than 60 runs in consecutive Asia Cup games as they bowled the UAE out for just 57. The show’s star was Kuldeep Yadav. Shivam Dube took three scalps, while he took four.
Prior to the current edition, they has not participated in an Asia Cup match since the 2023 final. The Men in Blue ultimately prevailed by 10 wickets after bowling Sri Lanka out for 50 runs in 15.2 overs.
4. Fourth Indian batter to hit a six off the first ball of a T20I innings
Abhishek Sharma, who is well-known for his aggressive top-order batting, wasted no time in attacking the opposition. The opener had full permission to go big from the start because it was a minor chase. He hit Haider Ali over wide long-off with a six off the opening ball of the innings to start the chase.
He became the fourth Indian batter to hit a six off the first ball of a T20I innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and Rohit Sharma are the other three individuals who have accomplished this. Sanju performed the same against the same opposition in 2025, while Rohit did the same against England in 2021. In 2024, Jaiswal did so against Zimbabwe.
