Continuity over change: Why Team India could go with the same XI in Asia Cup after UAE victory

India began their Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a dominant nine-wicket win over the UAE in Dubai on Wednesday, September 10. The match was a very one-sided affair, as Indian players completely outplayed their opponents in all departments. It was not a surprising result for many, given that the country is only an Associate member of the ICC and is not at par with full-member teams.

India bowled the UAE out for just 57 runs in 13.1 overs and then chased down the target in only 4.3 overs. It is the fastest chase recorded by India in T20Is. However, it was the way India used their resources that stood out more than the margin of victory. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav have often talked about giving players a long rope, and after this performance, there may be no reason to tinker with the playing XI.

Kuldeep Yadav leads India’s spin show in Dubai

The highlight of the game was Kuldeep Yadav’s magical spell. The left-arm spinner took 4 wickets for just 7 runs, completely outsmarting UAE batters. He was well-supported by Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel, who also chipped in with tight spells, taking one wicket each. Shivam Dube contributed with figures of 3/4. It was clear that India’s spin-heavy attack was perfect for the conditions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Even though India played with just one full-time pacer in Jasprit Bumrah, the balance of the team was not affected. The plan worked because Indian spinners enjoyed the slow surface. This template could be India’s preferred strategy throughout the Asia Cup. While pacers like Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana may come into contention later in the tournament, India look happy to stick with spin as their main weapon.

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Why India may continue with the spin-heavy attack

Also, this tournament serves as a preparatory camp for the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka. The conditions there will be very similar to what we are seeing in this Asia Cup. India will aim to finalise their best combination before the marquee ICC event, entering the tournament as defending champions. They will most likely continue with a spin-heavy attack there as well.

India have a world-class spin attack, as they showed in the match against UAE. With their upcoming clash against arch-rivals Pakistan, India will look to bring their A-game, and their spin department will definitely play a key role. In conditions like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which favour the spinners because of slow and turning tracks, it could be the difference between victory and defeat.

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Will Gambhir and SKY stick to the same XI?

On the batting side, Shubman Gill at the top of the order brought stability, while Abhishek Sharma’s aggressive batting gave India a quick start as usual. Abhishek smashed a quickfire 30 off 16 balls, including two fours and three sixes. Gill remained unbeaten on 20 as he finished the chase alongside skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who scored 7 off just 2 balls and hit one of the most stylish sixes of the match.

It appears that Gambhir is sticking to his favourite batting strategy of left-right combination. Sanju Samson has been pushed down the order to make room for Gill. He kept wickets brilliantly in the opening game and took a couple of smart catches. Samson also looks set to keep his place. Hardik Pandya is a no-brainer as he provides the much-needed balance in the bowling department with only one specialist pacer currently playing.

For now, there seems little reason to change a combination that worked so smoothly. India know they might have to make a few tweaks in the coming matches against tougher opponents, but that too will depend on the results and conditions. Someone like Shivam Dube might have to sit out, but with the kind of performance he showed in the first game and his ability to bat down the order, it will be harder for Gambhir and SKY to chop and change.