The Asia Cup 2025 has kicked off, with Afghanistan triumphing over Hong Kong in the opening match. The second match of the tournament is set for September 10th, pitting Team India against the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Team India is heavily invested in practice for this match. A notable moment arose during practice when Shubman Gill, Team India’s vice-captain, was clean bowled by a bowler of whom no one had heard. Conversely, his teammate Abhishek Sharma demonstrated extraordinary batting prowess, smashing approximately 30 sixes and astonishing the Indian team.
Shubman Gill’s Dismissal
In preparation for the UAE match, Indian team players engaged in rigorous practice at Dubai’s ICC Academy. Shubman Gill, the vice-captain, focused on batting practice, showcasing impressive shots off the new ball. According to reports, he played several excellent cover drives. However, a local bowler delivered a fast ball that beat his defense and hit the off stump, leaving him surprised.
During the same period, Abhishek Sharma also practiced batting extensively. He batted for about an hour, hitting around 30 sixes. Several of these shots even cleared the academy grounds. The team was visibly pleased with his performance. There is a possibility that Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma will open the innings against UAE.
Gill and Sharma to Open?
Reports indicate that Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma are likely to be the opening batsmen for Team India against the UAE. This could mean wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson may not be included in the playing eleven. Given that Team India is playing a T20I match after a considerable time, they want to win the first match by a significant margin. The team has high hopes for Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill.
During the practice session, wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma was observed practicing wicketkeeping. However, senior players such as fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana, along with spinner Kuldeep Yadav, did not participate in the practice. Meanwhile, left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh was seen practicing with strength and conditioning coach Adrian Le Roux.