Asia Cup 2025: Arshdeep out; Samson, Dube, Kuldeep in as India opt to bowl vs UAE
Arshdeep Singh was excluded while Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube and Kuldeep Yadav were picked in the playing XI as India opted to bowl first against UAE in the Asia Cup match.
New Delhi: Arshdeep Singh was excluded while Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube and Kuldeep Yadav were picked in the playing XI as India opted to bowl first against UAE in the Asia Cup 2025 Group A encounter in Dubai on Wednesday. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and choose to bowl first citing the humid conditions and the dew factor working on later at the Dubai International stadium.
Meanwhile, Jitesh Sharma, who was expected to get a chance in the match was ignored and the seasoned Samson was included in the side against the hosts. Arshdeep's exclusion came as a big surprise but with the next match against arch-rivals Pakistan on September 14, Jasprit Bumrah's inclusion seemed to be a strategic move ahead of the big clash.
Abhishek Verma, Suryakumar, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma and Samson together make for solid five batters in the side with Dube and all-rounder Hardik Pandya also crucial contributors with the bat. This game marks the return of Gill in the shortest format after a long time while Kuldeep, Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy are the three frontline spinners in the side.
Along with Bumrah who is the frontline seamer, Hardik and Dube happen to be the other seamers in the side. After losing 15 consecutive tosses in international cricket, this is the first time India have won the toss. This is also only the second time that both the teams are playing against each other. The last time they met was back in 2016 Asia Cup where India thrashed UAE by 9 wickets.
Playing XIs
United Arab Emirates: Muhammad Waseem(c), Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra(w), Asif Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Haider Ali, Dhruv Parashar, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Junaid Siddique, Simranjeet Singh
India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson(w), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy