New Delhi: Abhishek Sharma made T20I history as India dominated their Asia Cup 2025 opener, chasing down a modest 58 in just 4.3 overs to defeat the UAE by 9 wickets at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The match was a brief yet spectacular affair, lasting only 106 deliveries. Kuldeep Yadav and Shivam Dube led India’s lethal bowling attack, sharing seven wickets to skittle out the UAE for a record 57 in 13.1 overs. Jasprit Bumrah triggered the top-order collapse with a perfect yorker, while spinners Kuldeep and Shivam mopped up the tail with clinical precision.
Abhishek Sharma set the tone in the chase by smashing the very first ball he faced over long-off for a six, followed by two more sixes and two fours, finishing with a 16-ball 30. In doing so, he became the first Indian batter to hit the first ball of a T20I innings for a six in a chase, joining Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sanju Samson who achieved it in first innings.
The 25-year-old left-hander, who debuted in T20Is in July 2024, also holds the record for the highest individual T20I score by an Indian, having scored 135 against England at the Wankhede Stadium earlier this year, surpassing Shubman Gill’s 126*.
India’s performance under captain Suryakumar Yadav was dominant from start to finish. After winning the toss and opting to bowl, India quickly dismantled the UAE’s batting line-up. The openers had added 26 runs before Bumrah’s yorker sparked a dramatic collapse, with UAE losing nine wickets for just 31 runs.
Kuldeep Yadav, playing his first T20I since June 2024, finished with impressive figures of 4/7, while Shivam Dube added 3/4 to complete a record-breaking bowling display.
India now looks ahead to their marquee clash against Pakistan on Sunday, carrying forward the momentum from their statement-opening win.
