India Triumph in Dubai Amid Unexpected Twists

Published: 11 September 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk

It was a night of surprises in Dubai, where India sealed victory over the UAE in a match that turned out to be as much about off-field decisions as on-field performances. The scoreboard may suggest a routine win for the visitors, yet the evening carried several unexpected variations, like a googly that turns sharply when least anticipated.

India’s spinners made the early difference. Kuldeep Yadav, returning to the T20I fold after a long absence, bowled with control and sharp turn, bamboozling UAE’s middle order. Eleven of the 25 deliveries from India’s wrist spinners spun the other way, creating constant uncertainty. Harshit Kaushik, one of the UAE’s promising batters, was undone by a classic Kuldeep delivery that slipped through his defense. But the most striking surprises of the evening did not come from the ball alone.

The team selection raised eyebrows even before the first delivery. Sanju Samson was handed the gloves ahead of Jitesh Sharma, despite Sharma’s extended net sessions with the main squad. Samson, often deployed as an opener in Shubman Gill’s absence last year, was now shifted to No. 5, a role he had barely occupied in international cricket. Meanwhile, Kuldeep’s selection on a grassy surface—after being overlooked throughout India’s Test series in England—was an equally unexpected call.

The omissions were as noteworthy as the inclusions. Arshdeep Singh, a pivotal figure in India’s World Cup triumph, was left out altogether. Instead, all-rounder Shivam Dube, more known for his batting, found himself trusted with the ball. He justified the faith with three wickets, aided by technical adjustments suggested by bowling coach Morne Morkel. His ability to exploit the crease and vary his pace proved decisive against a UAE side that quickly lost its footing after a steady start.

India’s batting, in contrast, carried fewer shocks. Abhishek Sharma lived up to expectations, opening his innings with a towering six that set the tone for a comfortable chase. Yet the stadium atmosphere provided its own unusual turn. Far from the deafening crowds that usually accompany India’s games abroad, Dubai’s midweek stands were scarcely half-filled, the silence amplifying each twist on the pitch.

Even Jasprit Bumrah, typically India’s spearhead, looked uncharacteristically negotiable. His pace hovered below peak levels, and he emerged as the most expensive among India’s wicket-takers, though his trademark yorker still accounted for Alishan Sharafu.

For the UAE, the collapse from 41 for 2 to 57 all out was telling. Head coach Lalchand Rajput admitted his side had been overwhelmed by the scale of the contest, acknowledging that even seasoned batters often struggle against quality wrist spin.

Ultimately, India’s superiority was never in doubt, but the evening’s narrative belonged as much to selection gambles, tactical experiments, and subdued crowds as to the scoreline. Around the certainties of India’s win and Abhishek Sharma’s assured batting, almost everything else in Dubai seemed to bend, turn, and surprise—much like the googlies that set the tone for the night.