India will open their Asia Cup 2025 campaign against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on September 10 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. As defending champions and record eight-time winners, India will aim to make a statement in their first outing. Led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, the team boasts a powerful mix of seasoned performers and rising stars.

India’s batting lineup looks solid with Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya expected to lead from the front. In the bowling department, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh provide pace and accuracy, while Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy form a spin duo capable of troubling batters in the middle overs.

Meanwhile, the UAE captained by Muhammad Waseem, face a stern challenge but will rely on their familiarity with conditions in Dubai. Though they went winless in a recent home tri-series, it offered valuable preparation. Waseem’s aggressive batting, alongside the consistency of Asif Khan, will be crucial if UAE are to test India.

Dubai International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report

The Dubai International Cricket Stadium has developed a reputation for being a batting-friendly surface in T20Is, offering a fair contest between bat and ball. With consistent bounce and good carry, batsmen can play their shots freely, leading to competitive scoring. The average first-innings total usually ranges between 130-150, making it a venue that rarely sees either extreme low scores or one-sided run fests.

For bowlers, the new ball provides some initial help, particularly for pacers who can extract early bounce and slight movement. However, as the innings progresses, the assistance diminishes, and the track largely flattens out. Spinners, on the other hand, find conditions less favourable in the T20 format, as there is minimal grip or turn available, limiting their effectiveness.

One of the most notable trends at Dubai is the advantage for the chasing side. With conditions easing under lights, teams batting second have historically enjoyed more success. The boundary dimensions also contribute to free scoring – straight boundaries measure around 72 meters, while square boundaries sit between 64-67 meters, allowing batsmen to target both sides of the ground.

The toss plays a crucial role at this venue. Captains almost always opt to bowl first, hoping to exploit early bowling conditions and set up a chase under more favourable circumstances. This strategy has proven effective given the pitch’s tendency to remain stable without much deterioration over 40 overs.

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Dubai International Cricket Stadium: T20I Stats and Records

• Total matches: 110
• Matches won batting first: 51
• Matches won bowling first: 58
• Average 1st innings score: 139
• Average 2nd innings score: 123
• Highest total recorded: 212/2 (20 Ov) by India vs Afghanistan
• Lowest total recorded: 55/10 (14.2 Ov) by West Indies vs England
• Highest score chased: 184/8 (19.2 Ov) by Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh
• Lowest score defended: 98/5 (20 Ov) by Namibia Women vs UAE Women

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