Yadav Hails Sharma’s Consistency Ahead of Pakistan Clash

DUBAI: Indian team captain Suryakumar Yadav conveyed his enthusiasm on Wednesday for the upcoming ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 match against Pakistan, scheduled for Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

India commenced their Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a dominant victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

After electing to field, the Indian bowling attack dismissed the UAE for a mere 57 runs in 13.1 overs, with Kuldeep Yadav spearheading the effort by claiming four wickets.

Subsequently, India successfully reached the 58-run target, losing only one wicket and with 93 balls remaining.

During the post-match presentation, Yadav explained his decision to bowl first, stating he wanted to assess the pitch behavior for the second innings. He also voiced his satisfaction with the team’s overall showing.

“We wanted to gauge the wicket’s characteristics. It remained consistent in the second innings. The team delivered a clinical performance, displaying the desired attitude and energy,” Yadav commented.

Yadav further mentioned the players’ familiarity with the conditions, referencing their recent participation in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, and commended Kuldeep’s performance.

“Many players recently participated in the Champions Trophy here. The pitch appeared favorable but slightly slower, favoring spinners. The weather is quite hot, and Kuldeep performed admirably, receiving excellent support from Hardik, Dube, and Bumrah,” he added.

Yadav then lauded top-ranked T20I batter Abhishek Sharma for effectively setting the stage for the swift chase, completed in just 4.3 overs. He concluded by expressing his anticipation for the highly awaited match against Pakistan.

“He holds the World number one batting position deservedly, consistently setting the tone whether we are chasing 200 or 50 runs. His performance is remarkable. We are all eagerly awaiting the match against Pakistan.”