The Indian cricket team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, is set to come together in Dubai on September 4 for the upcoming Asia Cup, which kicks off on September 9. This time, players will arrive in a staggered manner from their respective locations, marking a shift from the usual practice of gathering first in Mumbai before heading to the tournament.
The decision was made to simplify travel logistics and enhance convenience for the players. A senior official from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared that all players are scheduled to reach Dubai by the evening of September 4, with their first practice session planned for September 5 at the ICC Academy.
“While some players will travel from Mumbai, it doesn’t make sense to have everyone convene there before flying to Dubai, especially since it’s a relatively short flight compared to other international destinations,” the official explained.
India’s first match in the tournament is against the UAE on September 10, followed by a highly anticipated clash with Pakistan on September 14. They will also compete against Oman on September 19 before moving on to the Super Four stage.
Among the players preparing for the Asia Cup, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana are currently participating in the Duleep Trophy quarterfinals for North Zone against East Zone, while Kuldeep Yadav is representing Central Zone against North East Zone.
When inquired about whether standbys Prasidh Krishna or Washington Sundar would be joining the main squad as net bowlers, the official confirmed that they would not be traveling with the team.
