Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar feels that world champions India are overwhelming favourites to win the Asia Cup 2025 after beginning their campaign with a dominant nine-wicket win over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Dubai on Wednesday, September 10. India recorded their biggest-ever victory in terms of balls remaining, as they required only 4.3 overs to chase after bowling out their opponents for a paltry score of 57.
The victory gave India the perfect start in the continental tournament, with two points in the kitty and a jaw-dropping net run-rate of +10.483. With a well-rounded balanced team having all bases covered, the team looks solid favourites to win a record ninth title, and Nayar backed the team to be the side to beat in this tournament.
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“I won’t call them contenders, they are coming after becoming champions. The kind of squad they have and the way they are playing in this format, this tournament is for them to lose. If they don’t win this tournament, there is something that’s gone wrong,” he said during a discussion on Sony Sports.
No sooner was India’s squad for the tournament announced than murmurs began about the team combination for the opening encounter. After the Asia Cup, India are to play fifteen matches before they kick-start their T20I title defence at home in February next year. Hence, the multi-team tournament gives India the right time to pick their best eleven and test players as per their skill set and what they bring to the table.
Much to everyone’s surprise, India played three spinners in their opening encounter, with comeback man Kuldeep Yadav partnering with mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy. The spin-heavy nature of the side was something that Nayar was particularly impressed with.
“The squad strength we have and the way our spinners bowled in the last match, I will always believe that if you are bowling well, winning the championship becomes easy. So it’s India’s tournament to lose,” he added.
The UAE clash showed exactly what India’s spinners are capable of. Player of the Match and was the pick of the lot with sensational figures of 4 for 7 in just 2.1 overs.
Varun Chakaravarthy gave away only four runs in two overs while taking a wicket, and Axar Patel picked up one wicket in his three-over spell. Their combined effort meant that the hosts slipped from 26/0 to 57 all out within just 14 overs.
The Indian batters were off to a flier and wasted no time in cruising to the target within five overs. Their biggest test awaits when they take on arch-rivals Pakistan on September 14.