India will lock horns with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today in the Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This contest comes after a long gap of nine years between the two sides, with their only previous T20I clash dating back to March 2016, when India eased to a nine-wicket victory.

Pitch report

The Dubai International Stadium is recognised for offering a fair balance between bat and ball. Fast bowlers often find assistance early on with bounce and movement, especially under lights, while spinners generally gain control during the middle overs. Batters, once settled, can also dominate, ensuring the surface remains competitive throughout. This balance demands adaptability from both sides, making tactical planning crucial whether batting first or chasing.

Weather forecast

On September 10, Dubai will experience typically hot and humid conditions for this time of year. Daytime temperatures are expected to peak at 41°C, dropping to around 31°C in the evening, with the match scheduled to begin at 6:30 PM local time (8:00 PM IST). Rain is not a concern, as precipitation chances stand at zero, but dew in the later stages could influence the second innings and provide some assistance to the chasing team. Humidity levels are likely to hover between 50–60%, creating sticky conditions that may test the players’ endurance while giving an edge to spin bowlers as the game progress.

India ‘clear’ favourites

India, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, are strong favourites and will look to not only win but also boost their Net Run Rate. With considerable depth and experience in these conditions, the Men in Blue are well-placed to deliver a commanding performance. Despite this, T20 cricket’s unpredictable nature means even a single impactful effort could swing the game.

On the other hand, UAE, under the leadership of Muhammad Waseem, will hope to harness home advantage. Their recent T20I successes, including wins against higher-ranked sides like New Zealand and Bangladesh, reflect their growing ability to challenge stronger opponents. While India’s familiarity with UAE conditions makes them unlikely to feel like visitors, the hosts are motivated to test their skills against a top-tier side and possibly spring a surprise.

IND vs UAEpredicted playing XI

India Predicted Playing 11: Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy

UAE Predicted Playing 11: Muhammad Waseem (C), Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Asif Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Farooq, Saghir Khan, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah

India vs UAE squads

India Squad: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Jitesh Sharma(w), Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Arshdeep Singh.

United Arab Emirates Squad: Muhammad Waseem(c), Alishan Sharafu, Rahul Chopra(w), Asif Khan, Muhammad Zohaib, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Saghir Khan, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Aryansh Sharma, Dhruv Parashar, Matiullah Khan, Ethan DSouza, Simranjeet Singh