Dubai, Sep 10 (NationPress) Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav attributed his recent improvements in fitness and bowling to his exceptional performance that led to a match-winning spell during India’s impressive nine-wicket victory over the UAE, marking a stellar start to their 2025 Asia Cup campaign.

At the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Kuldeep emerged as the standout performer, achieving remarkable figures of 4-7, which included three wickets in a single over, as India dismissed the UAE for a mere 57 runs in just 13.1 overs, before finishing the chase in just 27 balls.

“It was challenging for me (not playing much recently). I focused on my bowling and fitness (with Adrian le Roux, our Strength & Conditioning coach), and everything went perfectly (tonight),” Kuldeep shared during the post-match presentation after receiving the Player of the Match award.

“The length is crucial, especially in this format. Understanding the batters and their intentions is key. I had to react to what the batter was trying to do with each delivery,” Kuldeep explained.

India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, praised the collective effort of his team in this clinical opening win. “I wanted to assess how the wicket played (after opting to bowl first), and it remained consistent in the second innings. It was a clinical performance by the boys. We focused on maintaining good energy and attitude in the field, which was evident in our batting as well,” he noted.

“Many players had experience here during the Champions Trophy. The pitch appeared promising but seemed a bit slow. Given the heat, we anticipated spinners would dominate, but Hardik, Bumrah, and Dube also provided excellent support,” he added.

Left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma scored a rapid 30, earning Suryakumar's praise. “He is an exceptional batter, which is why he is currently the world number one (batter). He prioritizes the team above his personal score, which is incredible. We are all looking forward to the upcoming match against Pakistan on September 14,” Suryakumar stated.

UAE's captain Mohammad Waseem lamented the team's collapse following a positive start, vowing to come back stronger in upcoming group matches against Oman and Pakistan. “We began well as a batting unit but lost wickets in clusters, which cost us dearly. India is a remarkable team and bowled exceptionally well,” he said.

“They executed their plans effectively against every batter, which is why they are the top team. As a team, we must learn from our mistakes and aim to bounce back with strength,” Waseem concluded.