Who are the 6 Indian-origin players in UAE cricket team that played against India in Asia Cup 2025?

The 17th edition of the 2025 Men’s Asia Cup cricket tournament began in the United Arab Emirates on September 9 and will run until September 28.

India is drawn in Group A with Pakistan, Oman, and the UAE, and faced the Muhammad Waseem-led UAE side, which recently went winless in a tri-series against Pakistan and Afghanistan.

India beat the UAE comprehensively, with the match running only for a total of 17.4 overs. India bundled UAE for 57 in 13.1 overs, a target that India chased down with loss of only one wicket in just 4.3 overs.

Interestingly, the UAE squad included a few players of Indian origin against India in their opening match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Indian-origin players in the UAE team for the Asia Cup:

Simranjeet Singh: To those who don’t know, Indian cricketer Shubman Gill would come for training at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) nets in Mohali when he was a kid, and Singh used to bowl for him. Ludhiana’s Simranjeet got stranded in Dubai during the COVID-19 pandemic and stayed there. The 35-year-old is in the UAE’s squad and will be up against Gill and India now.

Harshit Kaushik: All-rounder Harshit Kaushik is among the Indian-origin cricketers representing the UAE in the upcoming Asia Cup. Kaushik made his international debut for the UAE during the recent tri-series that served as preparation for the tournament. Though still new to the international stage, he has featured in three T20Is so far, scoring 22 runs and yet to pick up a wicket. Seen as a promising prospect, Kaushik adds depth to the UAE squad with his dual skills and will look to make a bigger impact on the continental stage.

Dhruv Parashar: Originally from India, Parashar features in the UAE squad. Since his debut in December 2023, he has represented the UAE in 23 T20Is and nine ODIs. In T20Is, he has scored 128 runs across 18 innings and claimed 25 wickets in 22 matches.

Alishan Sharafu: Opening batter Alishan Sharafu is another notable name on the list. Known for his aggressive style of play, he has represented the UAE in 53 T20Is and 24 ODIs. Sharafu also brings valuable experience from featuring in several franchises in the ILT20.

Rahul Chopra: Rahul Chopra, who has Indian roots, is another wicketkeeper-batter in the UAE squad. He has featured in tournaments like the ILT20, Zimbabwe Afro T10 League, and the Abu Dhabi T10. For the UAE, Chopra has represented the side in 29 T20Is and 16 ODIs, scoring 600 and 403 runs respectively.

Aryansh Sharma: Though not a part of the playing XI in Wednesday’s match, Ghaziabad-born Aryansh Sharma is another Indian-origin cricketer featuring in the UAE squad for the Asia Cup. The 20-year-old wicketkeeper-batter relocated to the UAE with his family at the age of two. So far, he has represented the side in 15 T20Is and 18 ODIs, amassing 365 and 369 runs, respectively.

The Asia Cup tournament features eight teams. The five full members of the Asian Cricket Council, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, automatically qualified for the tournament and were joined by the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Hong Kong. The previous edition of the tournament was won by India.