Chennai Super Kings star Shivam Dube shone in the evolved role of an all-rounder as India crushed the United Arab Emirates in their opening contest of the Asia Cup 2025. The Indian dressing room celebrated his success, with the bowling coach handing him the Impact Player of the Match medal.
India started their much-awaited Asia Cup contest on September 10 and registered a record win, which truly made them look like world champions. The game also marked the return of some experienced players for India, as Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav returned to the Indian lineup for the shortest format.
Some controversial decisions were also made, especially on the snub of speedster Arshdeep Singh, who is currently the most successful Indian pacer in the format with 99 wickets. He is just a wicket away from becoming the first Indian bowler with 100 T20I wickets, but was benched for the Asia Cup opener for India.
Shivam Dube and Kuldeep Yadav steal the show as India crush the UAE in Asia Cup 2025 opener
India not only registered their first win of the Asia Cup 2025, but showed the world how to dominate small teams as the World Champions.
Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bowl first to dominate with the ball in the very first game. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav and part-time pacer Shivam Dube worked wonders for India.
Kuldeep Yadav did the initial carnage as he bowled a three-wicket over to break the back of the UAE batters. Shivam Dube came in to clean up the tail, and hence, the UAE lost 8 wickets within just 10 runs.
Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakravarthy also picked one wicket each. From 47/2 to 57-all-out, the world witnessed a devastating collapse in T20 cricket.
Not Kuldeep Yadav! Shivam Dube picked as the Impact Player of the Match in the Indian dressing room
After Shivam Dube, the batting all-rounder, made the ball talk during the first match of the Asia Cup 2025, he was picked as the impact player by the Indian dressing room and was handed the medal.
Having bowled very well in his 2 overs, he finished with startling figures of 3/4, a career best for the Indian World Cup winner. Dube has never played a bowling role in the team, nor has he bowled much for CSK; however, this time, he has been working hard in the nets.
With Dube steaming in the nets with the ball in the preparations before the Asia Cup 2025, he is expected to be serving as a third pace bowling option in the team, marking the perfect material for Gautam Gambhir’s ideology of featuring all-rounders.
Behind the Scenes has shown Morne Morkel, the Indian bowling coach, awarding Shivam Dube with the Impact Player medal. As Shivam Dube was handed the medal, he was asked to give a speech and brutally teased by his teammates.
Kuldeep Yadav was the official Player of the Match
Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm chinaman bowler, has played a T20I game for India after a long period of time in the Asia Cup 2025 opener. He spun his web with a 4-wicket haul, giving away just 7 runs in his 2.1 overs.
After his commendable show in the Asia Cup 2025, Kuldeep Yadav was awarded the player of the match. His contributions bowled out the UAE for the lowest ever T20I team total against India.