The Asia Cup 2025 has begun with Afghanistan defeating Hong Kong in the opening match. Now, all eyes are on India’s first clash against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on September 10. Ahead of this contest, Team India had an intense practice session at the ICC Academy in Dubai, where two contrasting moments caught everyone’s attention—Shubman Gill being bowled by an unknown local pacer, and Abhishek Sharma smashing around 30 sixes in an explosive net session.

Shubman Gill Clean Bowled by Local Bowler
Vice-captain Shubman Gill, who looked in fine touch early on—driving beautifully through covers—was left stunned when a UAE local net bowler breached his defense with a fiery delivery, knocking over his off stump. The dismissal surprised both Gill and the teammates watching from the sidelines.

Abhishek Sharma’s Six-Hitting Show
On the other end, Abhishek Sharma stole the spotlight with his fearless hitting. Reports suggest he batted for nearly an hour and hammered close to 30 sixes, with many balls sailing out of the academy premises. His explosive hitting lifted the team’s spirits and left fellow players visibly excited.

Likely Opening Pair Against UAE
Team management is considering opening with Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma in the UAE clash. If this combination is finalized, Sanju Samson may miss out from the starting XI. With India playing T20Is after a long break, the team will be eager to make a statement with a big win in their opening fixture.

Other Updates from Practice

• Jitesh Sharma was seen sharpening his wicketkeeping skills.

• Senior stars like Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, and Kuldeep Yadav were rested from practice.

• Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh worked separately under the supervision of strength and conditioning coach Adrian Le Roux.

India will look to kick off their Asia Cup campaign with dominance, riding on the form of Abhishek Sharma’s power-hitting and Shubman Gill’s reliability at the top.