India registered a comfortable win against the UAE in Dubai, but the match was far from straightforward. The night was filled with unexpected twists, from team selections to standout performances that nobody had seen coming.

Wrist Spinners Shine

India’s wrist spinners had a strong outing, with nearly half of their deliveries turning the other way. Kuldeep Yadav bowled with sharp variation and dismissed Harshit Kaushik with a beauty that slipped through the gates. Despite being left out in England’s Tests earlier this year, Kuldeep showed why he’s still a key weapon in the shorter format.

Surprising Team Selections

The team sheet itself brought some shocks. Jitesh Sharma, who many thought would keep wickets, was left out, and Sanju Samson got the gloves instead. Slotting in at No. 5, Samson added balance in the middle order. Shivam Dube was another surprise, picked as a seam-bowling all-rounder in spin-friendly conditions. He impressed with three wickets in just two overs, showing the impact of advice from bowling coach Morne Morkel.

Big Names Missing

Arshdeep Singh, India’s left-arm pacer who was crucial in the T20 World Cup, did not make the playing XI. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah looked less threatening than usual, even though he landed a trademark yorker to dismiss Alishan Sharafu.

A Rare Toss Win

India had gone 15 internationals without winning a toss, but Suryakumar Yadav finally broke the streak. His lighthearted moment with Muhammad Waseem set the tone for a night full of unusual turns.

UAE Struggle to Cope

UAE started decently in the PowerPlay but collapsed to 57 all out. Their coach, Lalchand Rajput, admitted the players were “overawed” by India’s big names and struggled against quality wrist spin.

Takeaways

The match confirmed India’s dominance but also raised new questions about team roles and strategies. While Abhishek Sharma’s first-ball six was predictable, everything else — from crowd turnout to player selections — carried its own twist.