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In the unforgiving arena of international cricket, few rivalries highlight the chasm between giants and dreamers like India versus the United Arab Emirates. From dusty Sharjah beginnings to Dubai’s modern humiliations, these clashes tell a tale of overwhelming dominance, fleeting underdog hope, relentless Indian excellence, and the quiet persistence of an associate nation chasing greatness against impossible odds.
Latest Matches
Recent United Arab Emirates National Cricket Team Vs India National Cricket Team Timeline encounters across formats (as of February 2026)
| Tournament | Venue | Date | Toss | United Arab Emirates Score | India Score | Result | Series | Player of the Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia Cup 2025 (T20I) | Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai | Sep 10, 2025 | India won the toss & elected to field | 57 (13.1 overs) | 60/1 (4.3 overs) | India won by 9 wickets (93 balls rem.) | Asia Cup 2025 | Kuldeep Yadav (IND) |
| Men’s T20 Asia Cup (T20I) | Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur | Mar 3, 2016 | UAE won the toss & elected to bat | 81/9 (20 overs) | 82/1 (10.1 overs) | India won by 9 wickets (59 balls rem.) | Asia Cup 2016 | Rohit Sharma (IND) |
| ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 (ODI) | W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth | Feb 28, 2015 | UAE won the toss & elected to bat | 102 (31.3 overs) | 104/1 (18.5 overs) | India won by 9 wickets (187 balls rem.) | ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Pool B | Ravichandran Ashwin (IND) |
| Asia Cup 2004 (ODI) | Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Dambulla | Jul 16, 2004 | India won the toss & elected to bat | 144 (35 overs) | 260/6 (50 overs) | India won by 116 runs | Asia Cup 2004 | Rahul Dravid (IND) |
| Pepsi Austral-Asia Cup 1993/94 (ODI) | Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium, Sharjah | Apr 13, 1994 | UAE won the toss & elected to field | 202/9 (50 overs) | 273/5 (50 overs) | India won by 71 runs | Pepsi Austral-Asia Cup 1993/94 | Vinod Kambli (IND) |
Head-to-Head Summary Table (All 5 Matches – Updated & Accurate)
| Format | Matches Played | India Wins | UAE Wins | No Result | India Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| T20I | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| Overall | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
Best Player Analysis Table (Standout Heroes Across All Matches)
| Rank | Player | Team | Key Stats (vs UAE) | POTM Wins | Why Legendary? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kuldeep Yadav | IND | 4 wickets for 7 runs (2025 T20I) | 1 | Most destructive spell ever vs UAE – collapsed them for 57! |
| 2 | Ravichandran Ashwin | IND | 4/25 (2015 WC ODI) + economical control | 1 | Turned the game with spin on a flat Perth pitch |
| 3 | Rahul Dravid | IND | 104 off 93 balls (2004) | 1 | Only century in these clashes – pure class |
| 4 | Rohit Sharma | IND | 39 (2016) + 57* (2015) = 96 runs | 1 | Mr Consistent – anchored two chases |
| 5 | Vinod Kambli | IND | 82* off 66 balls (1994) | 1 | Match-winning blitz in the very first clash |
Bonus UAE Mentions (Respect where due):
- Shaiman Anwar: Highest UAE scorer (43 in 2016 + 35 in 2015)
- Mohammad Tauqir: 55 in 2004 – only half-century by UAE batsman
The First Encounters: 1990s Uneven Beginnings in the Desert
The rivalry sparked in the 1990s desert heat with UAE’s ODI debut against India on April 13, 1994, at Sharjah. Toss won by UAE, they fielded first. India posted 273/5, powered by Azharuddin’s 81 and Kambli’s blistering 82* off 66 balls, including three sixes. Tendulkar added 63 with a massive six. UAE replied with 202/9, Mazhar Hussain’s gritty 70 standing out amid debuts for 12 players. India won by 71 runs, Kambli Player of the Match. Fans sensed uneven sands, but UAE’s fight hinted at future grit.
| Key Highlights | India | UAE | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest Scorer | Vinod Kambli 82* (66b, 4×4, 3×6) | Mazhar Hussain 70 (112b, 5×4) | Kambli’s aggressive knock turned the game; Hussain’s resilience best for debutants |
| Best Bowling | Bhupinder Singh 3/34 (10o) | Sohail Butt 2/52 (10o) | Bhupinder’s swing troubled openers; Butt dismissed Jadeja and Sidhu early |
| Key Partnership | 100 runs (Azharuddin-Kambli, 4th wkt) | 94 runs (Hussain-Mehra, 3rd wkt) | India’s stand built momentum; UAE’s fought back from 26/2 |
| Best Moment | Kambli’s three sixes in quick succession | Poonawala’s fiery 22 off 14 (5×4) | Explosive starts and finishes; debut nerves added drama |
| Records | Tendulkar 50 off 52b | 12 UAE debuts in one match | Historic for associates; Sharjah’s expat crowd roared for India |
Rising Tension in World Cups: The 2015 ODI World Cup Shock Value
Tension mounted in the 2015 ODI World Cup as underdogs UAE faced mighty India at Perth’s WACA on February 28. UAE, batting first after winning the toss, crumbled to 102 in 31.3 overs against a ruthless Indian attack. Shaiman Anwar’s defiant 35 was the highlight amid Ashwin’s magical 4/25 – his first World Cup four-fer. India chased effortlessly, Rohit Sharma’s unbeaten 57 (10 fours, 1 six) and Kohli’s 33* sealing a 9-wicket win with 187 balls left. The shock? UAE’s fight hinted at potential upsets, pressuring India to stay sharp. Fans buzzed with mixed awe and relief.
| Key Highlights | India | UAE | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest Scorer | Rohit Sharma 57* (55b, 10×4, 1×6) | Shaiman Anwar 35 (62b, 6×4) | Rohit’s aggressive fifty (24th in ODIs) powered the chase; Anwar’s grit top for UAE amid collapse |
| Best Bowling | Ravichandran Ashwin 4/25 (10o) | Javed Jaffri 1/21 (3o) | Ashwin’s spin wizardry earned Player of the Match; Jaffri dismissed Dhawan early |
| Key Partnership | 75* runs (Sharma-Kohli, 2nd wkt) | 31 runs (Anwar-Patil, 5th wkt) | Unbroken stand cruised India home; UAE’s brief resistance from 64/4 |
| Best Moment | Ashwin’s double-wicket maiden over | Anwar’s back-to-back boundaries off Shami | Spin mastery turned tide; Anwar’s flair sparked brief hope |
| Records | Biggest WC win by balls remaining (187) | Lowest total vs India in WC | Historic thrashing; UAE’s debut WC loss but learning curve |
The T20 Era Opens: 2016 Asia Cup Thriller in Mirpur
The T20 era ignited with fireworks in the 2016 Asia Cup at Mirpur on March 3, as UAE took on India in their first T20I clash. UAE, electing to bat, collapsed to a dismal 81/9 in 20 overs after early blows from Jasprit Bumrah and Ashish Nehra. Mohammad Shahzad’s 22 offered brief resistance. India chased effortlessly in 10.1 overs, losing just one wicket. Rohit Sharma smashed a fluent 39 off 28 balls (Player of the Match), while Yuvraj Singh finished unbeaten on 25. The 9-wicket win with 59 balls remaining showcased India’s dominance, leaving UAE fans deflated yet admiring the gap. Tension built as minnows faced the giants’ firepower.
| Key Highlights | India | UAE | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest Scorer | Rohit Sharma 39 (28b, 5×4, 1×6) | Mohammad Shahzad 22 (19b, 3×4) | Rohit’s classy cameo set the tone for easy chase; Shahzad’s aggressive start best UAE effort amid top-order failure |
| Best Bowling | Jasprit Bumrah 3/11 (4o) | Amjad Javed 1/19 (4o) | Bumrah’s lethal swing earned early wickets; Javed dismissed Dhawan to give UAE hope |
| Key Partnership | 57* runs (Sharma-Yuvraj, 2nd wkt) | 26 runs (Shahzad-Mustafa, 3rd wkt) | Unbroken stand powered India home quickly; UAE’s brief fight from 2/2 collapse |
| Best Moment | Rohit’s lofted six over midwicket off early overs | Shahzad’s pull for four off Nehra | Explosive boundaries lit up chase; Shahzad’s defiance sparked crowd buzz |
| Records | Fastest chase vs UAE in T20Is (10.1 overs) | Lowest total vs India in T20Is (81/9) | India’s margin one of biggest in Asia Cup T20; UAE’s innings highlighted spin vulnerability |
The Modern Chapter: Asia Cup 2025 Humiliation in Dubai
The modern chapter unfolded in brutal fashion during the Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025, Group A opener at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 10. India won the toss and fielded on a tricky surface. UAE crumbled spectacularly to 57 all out in 13.1 overs, their lowest T20I total against India. Alishan Sharafu top-scored with 22 before Bumrah bowled him. Kuldeep Yadav spun magic with 4/7 (including three in one over), while Shivam Dube grabbed 3/4. India chased 58 in just 4.3 overs for a 9-wicket win with 93 balls spare. Abhishek Sharma blasted 30 off 12, Shubman Gill 20* off 9. Kuldeep earned Player of the Match in this record humiliation that stunned Dubai’s packed stands.
| Key Highlights | India | UAE | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest Scorer | Abhishek Sharma 30 (12b, aggressive power-hitting) | Alishan Sharafu 22 (17b, lone resistance) | Abhishek’s explosive start (first ball six) demolished chase; Sharafu’s brief fight best amid total collapse |
| Best Bowling | Kuldeep Yadav 4/7 (2.1o, three in one over) | None notable | Kuldeep’s googlies earned PoTM and turned game; Dube’s 3/4 added middle-order destruction |
| Key Partnership | 30+ opening stand (Abhishek-Sharma/Gill) | 19 runs (Sharafu-Waseem, top for UAE) | India’s blitz ended in 27 balls total; UAE’s brief 2nd wicket offered false hope |
| Best Moment | Kuldeep’s triple-wicket over dismantling tail | Sharafu’s pulled boundary off early pace | Spin mastery sparked celebrations; rare UAE spark in sea of wickets |
| Records | Fastest chase in such margin (4.3 overs, 93 balls remaining) | Lowest T20I total vs India (57); quickest full match (106 balls) | Historic thrashing; fourth-shortest T20I completion ever, expat crowd turned blue frenzy |
Conclusion
Ultimately, the UAE-India scoreboard remains one-sided, yet each encounter fuels aspiration. India’s machine-like precision sharpens against minnows, while UAE’s fighters keep showing up, learning, and inspiring. In cricket’s vast story, this isn’t just about wins—it’s about the unbreakable spirit that refuses to stop dreaming, even when the giants tower above.
