UAE left-arm wrist-spinner Uddish Suri had mapped out the dismissal of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi nearly two months before it happened — through meticulous video analysis, coach-driven planning, and what he describes as 'manifestation'. Speaking ahead of the Under-19 Asia Cup 2026, which begins in Oman on 5 November, Suri recalled how he held one of the most destructive young batters in world cricket to an economy of exactly one-run-a-ball in last year's edition of the tournament.

The Sooryavanshi Over That Went Everywhere — Except Suri's Way

In last year's U19 Asia Cup clash at the ICC Academy in Dubai, Sooryavanshi produced an innings of 171 off 95 balls, including 14 sixes, as India posted an imposing 433/6. Six UAE bowlers were taken apart — Suri was not. He bowled 23 balls to Sooryavanshi, conceded exactly 23 runs, and in his penultimate over, castled him. Suri finished with figures of 2 for 77 from 10 overs — creditable figures in a 433-run chase context.

'Before the tournament had started — like about a month and a half before — I had always been planning ahead. I believe in manifestation a lot. So, I think I had manifested that I would be the one getting this wicket,' Suri said. His preparation involved working with coaches Naveed sir, Zahoor sir, Nael sir, and Manpreet sir, alongside the team's analyst, studying Sooryavanshi's strong zones and identifying lines to curb his scoring.

A New Challenge: Dravid, Sehwag Heirs and a Tough Group

This year's tournament presents a stiffer assignment. UAE have been placed in a group alongside India, Pakistan, and Nepal. The Indian side is no longer built around Sooryavanshi alone — now a part of the senior India T20I setup — and the spotlight has shifted to Anvay Dravid and Aaryavir Sehwag, sons of Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag respectively. Both featured in India U19's recent series win against Australia U19 and scored quickfire hundreds in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy. Captain Lakshay Raichandani and Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan also feature in Suri's planning for the India-UAE clash on 10 November.

Cricket Runs in the Family

Suri's journey to left-arm wrist-spin began at the age of four, under coaches Shehzad and Prashant, through a school under-7 tournament called Cubs cricket — the same event his elder brother Tanish had played. His initial path was anything but settled: his school coach pushed for him to become a wicketkeeper, his parents preferred a spinner or pacer, and eventually the UAE climate — with summers touching 50 degrees Celsius — made the case for spin bowling compelling. 'That's where my spin journey started. Then just caught on with the left-arm chinaman,' he said.

Tanish, who has played 13 ODIs and 14 T20Is for the UAE, remains Uddish's closest confidant and technical sounding board. The two speak 'almost every day', and Tanish — who has toured Oman before — briefed Uddish on conditions ahead of the tournament. Their training exchanges often focus on refining the googly, adding pace through it and generating more drift and turn.

Engineering Degree, UAE Summers, and Eyes on the Abu Dhabi T10

Away from cricket, Suri is studying mechanical engineering at university — a family-influenced choice reflecting the view that competitive sports careers have an expiry date. His days are split between five to six hours of study and an equivalent block of training. 'Obviously your qualification and academics are going to help you reach somewhere even better even after your sports are done,' he said. He credits his parents — who sat near the boundary ropes through 50-degree UAE summers throughout his youth career — as central to both his and Tanish's development.

After the Asia Cup, Suri is headed straight into the Abu Dhabi T10 league. His bowling models for the two formats differ: Noor Ahmad for T20 variations, Kuldeep Yadav for ODI trajectory and deception. 'That one millisecond, if he gets late on the shot, I think I can just pick up a wicket,' he explained. Coming off the Emirates D50 and D10 competitions, he says the UAE unit has been training for the past three and a half months and is targeting at least a semifinal berth.