Team India on Friday had a full practice session at the ICC Academy in Dubai and finalized their preparations for the Asia Cup 2025. India will begin their campaign against the hosts, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on September 10. After this, they will face archrivals Pakistan on September 14 and Oman on September 19. The playoff matches will begin on September 20.
This was the first time after the England Test series that the Indian players were practicing together. Captain Suryakumar Yadav, vice-captain Shubman Gill, Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma, Tilak Verma, and Abhishek Sharma batted for a long time in the nets. Many players, including Gill, Bumrah, Arshdeep, and Kuldeep, got a month’s rest before the tournament.
All the players of the Indian team have reached Dubai with high spirits and the spirit of victory. The most important thing in the midst of all this was the smile on the captain’s face and the amazing confidence that was visible in the players who accompanied him. Keeping the security of the Indian team in mind, three-layer security has been provided, and the ICC Academy will be turned into a fortress.
The Indian cricket team will hold its first practice session in Dubai on Friday ahead of the Asia Cup 2025. The eight-nation tournament will begin on September 9, and the Indian team will play its first match on September 10. The members of the Indian team were scheduled to leave for Dubai on September 4, and many stars have reportedly arrived.
Unlike previous tournaments, the BCCI has instructed all players to assemble directly in Dubai, skipping the traditional preparatory camp in India. The Indian team has won the Asia Cup 8 times so far and will look to add another trophy to their kitty. The tournament also marks the start of India’s preparations for the T20 World Cup scheduled in February 2026.
The team management did not hold a preparatory camp at the BCCI Center of Excellence and decided to send the players to Dubai early so that they could acclimatize to the environment there. During training, special attention was given to Gill. The team did fitness exercises and light skill training. All eyes were also on the return of one of the senior players, Jasprit Bumrah, to T20 cricket.
Bumrah last played in this format in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, where his brilliant performance (2/18) helped India win over South Africa by seven runs. He also won the Player of the Series award in that tournament by taking 15 wickets. Bumrah, who faced criticism for not playing two Tests in the home series against England earlier this year, has returned to the team after a 40-day break.
Also Read: Top 5 Turkish Restaurants in Dubai That Serves Authentic Turkish Food
Team India Seen in Jersey without Logo
During practice, he was seen having a light conversation with Abhishek Sharma, while Sanju Samson was discussing with the fielding coach and head coach Gautam Gambhir. Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya also made headlines. He was seen in a new blonde hairstyle and met fans and signed autographs.
Dream11 is no longer a sponsor, so the team was seen practicing in jerseys without a logo. India has won the Asia Cup a record eight times. India is the host of this tournament. However, the matches are being held at different venues in the United Arab Emirates.
Team India Squad – Asia Cup 2025
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh
Reserves: Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal
Tournament Format
Eight teams are split into two groups:
- Group A: India, Pakistan, UAE, Oman
- Group B: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong
Each team plays three matches in the group stage. The top two from each group enter the Super Four, playing round-robin matches. The top two teams then advance to the final on September 28 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Key Matches to Watch Out for
- India vs UAE: September 10, Dubai
- India vs Pakistan: September 14, Dubai
- India vs Oman: September 19, Abu Dhabi
- Super Four: September 20–26
- Final: September 28, Dubai