The Indian cricket team will begin its Asia Cup campaign against hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Dubai on Wednesday, a match seen as an opportunity for the team to find its rhythm. Despite being the reigning T20 World champions and entering the tournament as favorites, India has played just five T20Is this year, a stark contrast to the 19 and 15 played by Pakistan and Bangladesh respectively. The match, which will be played in stifling Dubai heat, will be a test of both the team's fitness and its new-look combination.
The team's lineup will be a point of interest, with a few key positions up for grabs. The return of Shubman Gill as vice-captain seems to have cemented his spot in the playing XI, which puts the position of opener, currently held by Sanju Samson, in jeopardy. Samson, who has performed well recently, also faces competition from Jitesh Sharma for the wicketkeeper's slot. When asked about Samson, captain Suryakumar Yadav jokingly responded, "We are taking really good care of him (Samson). Don’t worry, we will make the right decision tomorrow,".
The playing conditions in Dubai will also influence the team's bowling strategy. While India opted for a spin-heavy attack during its Champions Trophy victory in the UAE earlier this year, the pitch for this tournament is expected to have a "sprinkling of green," which might favor pace bowlers. This could prompt a shift in India’s bowling combination, potentially seeing a two-seamer attack with Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh partnering. This would be a departure from the one-specialist-seamer approach used previously.
While India has a dominant record against the UAE, having won their only T20I encounter in 2016, they would be wise not to underestimate their opponent. The UAE, coached by India's own Lalchand Rajput, who was also the manager of the Indian 2007 winning team, has shown recent form, including a 2-1 bilateral T20I series win against Bangladesh in May.
With temperatures soaring and the toss potentially playing a crucial role due to the presence of dew, the match will be a challenging one for both sides. For India, it’s about more than just a win; it's about setting the tone for the rest of the tournament and building momentum ahead of the knockout stages.