Asia Cup 2025: Stat highlights from India’s rout of UAE

Originally posted on Guerilla Cricket | By Aryan Surana | Last updated Sep 10, 2025 4:09 PM ET

India hunted down their target of 58 in just 4.3 overs, therefore winning their Asia Cup campaign opener versus UAE with 93 balls to spare, making it is the second-largest triumph in T20I history by the virtue of balls remaining, involving a full-member side. India’s previous record was winning with 81 balls remaining, against Scotland in 2021.

This lopsided clash was also the fourth-shortest completed T20I involving a full-member side. The entire match lasted just 106 deliveries, falling 13 short of the record of 93.

With India opting for only spearhead Jasprit Bumrah as their frontline pacer, Hardik Pandya kicked off the proceedings with the ball and found out that Alishan Sharafu was good at picking length. He swivel-pulled Bumrah too before flat-batting Axar Patel over cover for a six. However, an inch-perfect yorker from Bumrah brough an end to his promising knock.

Muhammad Zohaib then had an ill-fated slog at Varun Chakaravarthy before Kuldeep broke the game open with a three-wicket over. The well-set Waseem was one of the victims, much to UAE’s chagrin. With the brawny Asif Khan’s exit UAE found themselves reeling at 52/6. They couldn’t improve their score much from here on as Dube and Kuldeep continued to have a field day, bowling UAE out for the second-lowest total in Asia Cup history.

As expected, India hardly broke a sweat in the run chase. Abhishek Sharma blazed off the blocks by depositing the first ball over long off for a six and followed it up with a cracking four. Shubman Gill fetched a four and a six in the following over. With India already ticking 25 runs off the target in the first two overs, it was easy to ascertain that this pursuit wouldn’t go beyond the powerplay and it didn’t notwithstanding the dismissal of the swashbuckling southpaw.

This article first appeared on Guerilla Cricket and was syndicated with permission.

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