Team India trains at ICC Academy in Dubai ahead of Asia Cup 2025 opener against UAE.
Team India has started its Asia Cup 2025 campaign with the first practice session in Dubai on Friday, September 5. The players trained at the ICC Academy ahead of their opening match against the UAE on September 10.
This is India’s first big tournament after the recent Test series in England and is a key step in preparing for the T20 World Cup 2026.
This time, the BCCI asked players to come directly to Dubai instead of holding a camp in India. The squad arrived in small groups, and by Friday evening, all players were together for their first full session. Head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak supervised the training.
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Captain Suryakumar Yadav led the practice with energy and focus. Vice-captain Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, and Abhishek Sharma also participated. The combination of experienced players and young talent makes the team strong for the tournament.
“This is our first major tournament after the England series, and we want to perform well in Dubai,” said a team source. The Asia Cup 2025 is a chance for India to test strategies, try new player combinations, and give young players important international experience before the T20 World Cup next year.
India has won the Asia Cup eight times and will aim to win again under Surya’s captaincy. Fans are especially looking forward to the matches against Pakistan on September 14 and Oman on September 19, which will be important for India’s chances in the tournament.
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The tournament has eight teams in two groups:
Group A: India, Pakistan, UAE, Oman
Group B: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong
Each team plays three matches in the group stage. The top two from each group move to the Super Four stage, where they play three more matches. The top two from the Super Four reach the final on September 28 in Dubai.
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This year, India is using the Asia Cup to give younger players experience in big matches. This helps the team find new talent and build depth for the T20 World Cup 2026. This strategy, according to experts, will help India maintain its dominance in the Asia Cup while training the players of the future.
