Kuldeep spins India to crushing win over UAE in Asia Cup opener
Kuldeep Yadav starred with a sensational four-wicket haul as defending champions India thrashed hosts United Arab Emirates by nine wickets in their Asia Cup opener in Dubai on Wednesday.
The left-arm wrist spinner returned figures of 4-7, including three wickets in a single over, to help skittle UAE for just 57 in 13.1 overs after India chose to field. Medium-pacer Shivam Dube also struck with three wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah removed opener Alishan Sharafu for 22, the hosts’ top score alongside captain Muhammad Waseem’s 19. No other batsman reached double figures.
Player-of-the-match Kuldeep, making his first T20 appearance since India’s World Cup triumph in Barbados last year, said everything went “perfect” on his return. “Clinical performance from the boys,” captain Suryakumar Yadav noted. “Wanted good energy and attitude in the field and that carried over into the batting.”
India chased the target in just 4.3 overs, with Abhishek Sharma smashing 30 off 16 balls before falling to Junaid Siddique. Vice-captain Shubman Gill finished unbeaten on 20 as Suryakumar hit the winning runs.
“They executed their plan for every batter,” admitted Waseem. “That is why they are the number one team.”
India next face arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday in Dubai.
(Source: AFP)
