Team India’s round of preparations has begun. After a period of lull (no cricket), players have started to jet off to Dubai as the Asia Cup 2025 countdown gets underway. The build-up has already accelerated, with key players seen at the Mumbai airport on Wednesday. Defending champions India will play the hosts, the United Arab Emirates, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 10.
Star Sports shared visuals of captain Suryakumar Yadav, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and all-rounder Hardik Pandya leaving for Dubai. It is the first wave of arrivals for India’s Asia Cup camp. Unlike previous tournaments, the BCCI has directed all players to assemble directly in Dubai, skipping the customary preparatory camp in India.
Surya to lead, Gambhir joins in Dubai
This Asia Cup carries a different tone for India. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli no longer part of the setup, it is Suryakumar Yadav who will front India’s T20I unit, with Shubman Gill as his deputy. Gambhir, entering his first multi-nation T20 tournament as head coach, is also set for an early arrival, reaching Dubai by Thursday evening.
The team will hold its first collective practice on Friday at the ICC Academy, a three-hour evening session that will allow the entire squad to get into rhythm ahead of a busy week. According to BCCI directives, all 15 members of the squad and the five standbys are expected to be in Dubai by Thursday night. Players have been asked to travel separately from their respective cities.
