India begin their Asia Cup 2025 campaign on Wednesday when they face off against UAE. DUbai has been a hotbed for spinners, as recently as the Champions Trophy earlier this year. However, the surfaces for the Asia Cup are set to surprise with pacers set to come in play more often.
Dubai pitch report: Run friendly and help for seamers?
Unlike in March, the pitch at Dubai International Cricket Stadium is fresh for the new season. India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel confirmed a hint of grass on the surface a couple of days before the India vs UAE clash. That should help the pacers, especially with the new ball swinging around. Bowlers with bustling pace will have a say, with variable bounce to also come into the picture. Dubai would not be without spin, but an overload like in the Champions Trophy won’t be necessary.
The heat could definitely be a challenge. Temperatures are expected to be in the late 30s and early 40s, testing the conditioning of players. A balanced attack given the conditons is likely, meaning both Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah could feature. Suryakumar Yadav might have to make the hard choice in selecting one among Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav, with Axar Patel taking the other spinner slot.
India will have bitter-sweet memories from Dubai. They were handed chastening defeats by Pakistan and New Zealand in the 2021 T20 World Cup. Their last T20I at the venue was in 2022 Asia Cup, with Virat Kohli ending his century drought against Afghanistan. Overall, India have won 5 of their 9 matches at the venue.
| Matches | Wins | Tie/NR | Losses |
| 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
How Dubai pitch would shape India’s bowling attack?
Given the grass and the conditions, India are likely to opt for a balanced attack. Jasprit Bumrah spearheads the pace attack with Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya for company. India could even feature Harshit Rana vs UAE, ‘saving’ their premier bowlers for Pakistan clash. In terms of spin, Axar Patel is a certainty given his all-round abilities. Varun Chakravarthy wreaked havoc earlier this year at the Champions Trophy, while Kuldeep Yadav is also an enticing option. India could play all 3 spinners but will have to compromise on batting depth.
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