IND vs UAE: India Dominate with Record-Breaking Run Chase in High-Voltage Cricket Showdown

India and the United Arab Emirates square off tonight in Match 2 of the Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, with first ball scheduled for 7:30 pm local time (8:00 pm IST). The game opens Group A and doubles as India’s first competitive outing since lifting the T20 World Cup in June, making “IND vs UAE” one of the most searched match-ups of the week. Latest team news • India: Stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav confirmed Shubman Gill will partner debutant Abhishek Sharma at the top, while Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh headline a two-pronged pace attack backed by Hardik Pandya’s seam-up overs and the spin duo of Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy. • UAE: Captain Muhammad Waseem banks on Junaid Siddique’s new-ball swing and veteran seamer Zahoor Khan at the death, while 17-year-old leg-spinner Adhitya Shetty is tipped to start after a breakout domestic season. Pitch & weather Dubai’s strip has offered true pace in night matches this week, yet the abrasive surface traditionally grips for spinners after the Powerplay. Forecast temperatures hover around 34 °C with 60 % humidity, meaning dew could aid chasing sides later in the evening. Head-to-head snapshot India lead the T20I head-to-head 3-0, most recently cruising to a 79-run victory in the 2022 Asia Cup qualifiers. UAE’s last win over a Full-Member nation came against Afghanistan in February. Key match-ups • Jasprit Bumrah vs Muhammad Waseem: Bumrah’s yorkers at the death versus Waseem’s strike-rate of 152 make this the contest that could decide whether UAE reach a competitive total. • Varun Chakravarthy vs Aryan Lakra: Varun’s mystery spin averages 5.8 rpo on slow decks, while southpaw Lakra prefers lofted sweeps; whichever wins this duel could tilt the middle overs. Where to watch & live streaming In India: Star Sports 1 & HD; Disney+ Hotstar app (free tier). UAE & MENA: Etisalat CricLife. UK: TNT Sports. USA: Willow TV and ESPN+. Fantasy & betting tips Top captaincy picks: Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah. Differential: Adhitya Shetty (low ownership, high wicket-taking potential). Odds: India 1.08, UAE 7.50 (Betway). Punters eyeing an upset may prefer in-play markets once UAE’s openers face India’s new ball. Predicted XIs India: Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh. UAE: Muhammad Waseem (c), Aryan Lakra, Vriitya Aravind (wk), Alishan Sharafu, Basil Hameed, CP Rizwan, Zawar Farid, Junaid Siddique, Ali Naseer, Zahoor Khan, Adhitya Shetty. Match prediction On form and depth, India are heavy favourites, but early wickets for UAE’s pace duo could expose India’s inexperienced middle order and keep the clash alive deep into the second innings.