Tuesday, September 9, 2025
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India holds 9 major world records in space missions, to add 10 more soon: ISRO Chairman

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New Delhi, Sep 9: India has achieved nine major world records in space missions and is soon set to add about 8-10 more, said Chairman V. Narayanan here on Tuesday. Chandrayan series 1, 2, and 3, Mars Orbiter Mission, and cryogenic engine technology are among the nine major world records achieved since 2008, Narayanan said, while addressing the All-India Management Convention’s 52nd National Management Convention.

In 2008, India became the first country with the Chandrayan-1 mission to discover water molecules on the lunar surface, sub-surface, and exosphere, Narayanan said. It was later confirmed by NASA’s Sofia Observatory.

With the Mars Orbiter Mission (2014), India became the first to ace a mission to the Red Planet on its first attempt. In 2017, the PSLV-C37 made history by launching 104 satellites in a single mission.

“With the Chandrayan-2 mission in 2019, India has the best camera (the orbiter high-resolution camera) in the Moon’s orbit,” Narayanan said. “Chandrayaan 3 on August 23, 2023, created a historical day, which made India the first country to land a spacecraft near the lunar South Pole”. “Chandrayaan 3 also achieved the first in situ measurement of lunar surface and the near-surface environment in the Moon’s Southern Polar region,” the Chairman said.

Further, between December 2014 and June 2017, India achieved three world records in LVM3 cryogenic stage development. “The development, qualification, and 1st flight was achieved with only three engines as against the world record of four-11 engines,” the ISRO chief said.

The maiden flight of LVM3 with cryogenic stage was achieved in 28 months by ISRO as against 37 months to 108 months by other countries, he noted. ISRO aced the hot stage test in the shortest period — just 34 days — as compared to other countries, with 64 days to 10 months. “8-10 more world records are planned,” Narayanan said.

Speaking on the frugal expenditure of these missions, ISRO chief said: “Because we know we are very sensitive on cost, every test we authorise after thoroughly analysing and discussing. And this sensitivity is the reason for reducing the launch cost”.

He also highlighted other achievements, such as over 4,000 rockets from Indian soil and 133 satellites launched by ISRO. On the role of ISRO in transforming India’s economy and security, Narayanan highlighted how ISRO is strengthening India’s technological edge, boosting localisation and technology transfer and driving space entrepreneurship to position the country as a global space leader.

“I believe the entire journey of our space programme, from the era of bullock carts and bicycles to today, is remarkable. By 2040, we aim to land a man on the Moon, where, placing the Indian flag, he will proclaim that India is on its path to becoming a developed nation. This is the message we aspire to convey through this historic milestone,” he said.

IANS

Indian citizens advised to defer travel to Nepal until situation stabilises: MEA

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New Delhi/Kathmandu, Sep 9: India on Tuesday advised its citizens to defer their travelling plans to Nepal until the situation stabilises in the neighbouring country following the death of 19 people in widespread protests which also resulted in the resignation of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli.

“In view of the developing situation in Nepal, Indian citizens are advised to defer travel there until the situation has stabilised. Indian citizens presently in Nepal are advised to shelter in their current places of residence, avoid going out onto the streets and exercise all due caution,” read an advisory issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) late Tuesday afternoon.

“They are also advised to follow local safety advisories from Nepal authorities as well as the Embassy of India in Kathmandu. In case of any assistance required, please call the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, on the helpline numbers,” the MEA added.

Earlier in the day, the Indian government stated that it is closely monitoring the developments in Nepal since yesterday and are deeply saddened by the loss of many young lives.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased. We also wish speedy recovery for those who were injured. As a close friend and neighbour, we hope that all concerned will exercise restraint and address any issues through peaceful means and dialogue,” read a statement issued by the MEA.

It added: “We have also taken note that authorities have imposed curfew in Kathmandu and several other cities of Nepal. Indian nationals in Nepal are advised to exercise caution and adhere to the steps and guidelines issued by the Nepali authorities.”

Meanwhile, faced with intense pressure from Gen-Z protests, Nepal’s Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli resigned from his post on Tuesday. Oli submitted his resignation letter to President Ram Chandra Poudel, citing the abnormal situation in the country as protests intensified against his rule throughout the country.

Oli was elected Prime Minister on July 14, 2024, as per a consensus reached with Nepali Congress, the largest party in the parliament. As protests intensified on the second day following the killing of 19 protestors on Monday, the ruling coalition appeared to have fractured one after another with ministers particularly belonging to Nepali Congress resigning and putting further pressure on the government to quit.

General Secretaries of ruling Nepali Congress, Gagan Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma had earlier urged Prime Minister Oli to resign and pave the way forward. Thapa and Sharma said in a statement that the relevance of the seven-point agreement reached between the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) and Congress during the formation of the government was no longer valid.

It is not immediately clear what course Nepal’s politics would take now as all the lawmakers from the fourth largest party Rastriya Swatantra Party also resigned in masses demanding an interim government.

Enraged by the killing of so many people during the first day of the protests organised by the Gen-Z demanding accountability for corruption and social media ban, protestors throughout the country started to attack houses of leaders and government buildings.

On Tuesday, the protestors stormed into the parliament building at Baneshwor in Kathmandu and set the building on fire. The protestors had made unsuccessful attempts to damage the building even on Monday which led to strong police response leading to the death of several people.

They also entered the Singh Durbar, the main administrative centre of the Nepal government and torched the main gate. The party headquarters of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) or CPN (UML) and Nepali Congress in the Kathmandu Valley were also defaced and set on fire.

Torching and vandalism in the government offices in many parts of the country have also been reported by the local media. Similar cases of vandalism and torching were also reported in several government offices of the nation.

After Home Minister and Agriculture Minister, Minister for Health and Population Pradip Poudel and Minister for Youth and Sports Teju Lal Chaudhary also announced their resignation from their respective positions, expressing regret over the use of force against the Gen-Z protestors.

Videos of the torching of Prime Minister Oli’s house at Balakot in Kathmandu’s Bhaktapur also went viral on social media. The protestors also forcefully entered Singh Durbar, the main administrative centre of the government.

IANS

‘Oli’s ego has turned to ashes’: Nepal residents react after PM’s resignation amid protests

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Kathmandu, Sep 9: As Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned amid mass protests sweeping across the country, the announcement on Tuesday was met with mixed emotions – from anger to relief – as citizens accused him of leading a “corrupt” and “oppressive” government and some declared that “Oli’s ego has turned into ashes”.

IANS spoke to several residents of Nepal, who expressed their reactions to the resignation, calling it inevitable after days of civil unrest and growing youth-led demonstrations. “This was expected. Prime Minister Oli had no option left but to resign. His government was corrupt and completely detached from the public’s needs,” a resident said. “More than 42 cabinet ministers have stepped down. There is no law and order left. I fear the military may soon take over.”

Another protestor said: “Oli’s resignation was bound to happen. Ministers are resigning one after the other. Let’s see what comes next.” Condemning the use of force during the protests, one resident said: “It’s unacceptable that guns were used against protestors. What happened was wrong. But now, Oli has finally stepped down.”

Pointing to systemic issues, another citizen said: “Under Oli’s government, corruption thrived. The people of Nepal received nothing in return. The youth, especially students and teenagers, took action—and it’s commendable.”

Another added: “The situation left Oli with no other choice. His ego has now turned to ashes.” Yet another protestor said: “We’ve burned the Parliament and homes of corrupt parliamentarians. I want to burn down every house of those who betrayed the country.”

Highlighting the power shift, another resident asserted that “Gen Z is awake 24/7. The next government will be under the control of Gen Z. This is just the beginning”. Earlier in the day, Oli resigned from his post. He submitted his resignation letter to President Ram Chandra Poudel, citing the abnormal situation in the country as protests intensified against his rule throughout the country.

In the resignation letter, Oli said he resigned from the post as per Article 77 (1) of the constitution to pave the way for a constitutional resolution of the current situation. Oli was elected Prime Minister on July 14, 2024, as per a consensus reached with Nepali Congress, the largest party in the parliament.

Some reports indicated that Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah could be appointed as an interim Prime Minister of the country. As protests intensified on the second day following the killing of 19 protesters on Monday, the ruling coalition appeared to have fractured one after another, with ministers, particularly belonging to Nepali Congress, resigning and putting further pressure on the government to quit.

General Secretaries of the ruling Nepali Congress, Gagan Thapa and Bishwo Prakash Sharma, had earlier urged Prime Minister Oli to resign and pave the way forward. Thapa and Sharma said in a statement that the seven-point agreement reached between the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist–Leninist and Congress during the formation of the government was no longer valid.

It is not immediately clear what course Nepal’s politics would take now, as all the lawmakers from the fourth largest party, Rastriya Swatantra Party, also resigned en masse, demanding an interim government.

Enraged by the killing of so many people during the first day of the protests organised by Gen-Z demanding accountability for corruption and social media ban, protesters throughout the country started to attack the houses of leaders and government buildings.

On Tuesday, the protesters stormed into the parliament building at Baneshwor in Kathmandu and set the building on fire. The protesters had made unsuccessful attempts to damage the building even on Monday, which led to a strong police response, resulting in the death of several people.

They also entered the Singh Durbar, the main administrative centre of the Nepalese government and torched the main gate. The party headquarters of the ruling CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress in the Kathmandu Valley were also defaced and set on fire.

Torching and vandalism in the government offices in many parts of the country have also been reported by the local media. The authorities said that the situation in Kathmandu has remained tense as protests intensified in several parts of the valley despite the curfew imposed by the local administrations.

After Home Minister and Agriculture Minister, Minister for Health and Population Pradip Poudel and Minister for Youth and Sports Teju Lal Chaudhary also announced their resignation from their respective positions, expressing regret over the use of force against the Gen-Z protesters. Videos of the torching of Prime Minister Oli’s house at Balakot in Kathmandu’s Bhaktapur also went viral on social media. The protesters also forcefully entered the Singh Durbar, the main administrative centre of the government.

IANS

Apple to unveil next-gen iPhones with new chips, thinner Air model

New Delhi, Sep 9: Apple is set to unveil its next generation of iPhones on Tuesday at its highly anticipated “Awe Dropping” event, marking the company’s biggest product launch of the year. The new line-up is expected to include four iPhone models powered by the advanced A19 and A19 Pro chips, promising faster performance and significant feature upgrades. While the overall design may not change drastically from last year’s iPhone 16, Apple is banking on artificial intelligence features and improved user experience to draw buyers.

Apple is also likely to introduce an extra-thin Air model, measuring less than 5.5 mm thick, as part of its expanding product range. The company has been positioning its iPhones to integrate more AI-driven capabilities, though some major updates, such as a smarter Siri assistant, are scheduled for next year.

The iPhone 16, which was the first to be designed for a wider range of AI features, saw strong demand but fell slightly short of expectations as some promised improvements were delayed. The upcoming models are expected to build on that foundation, aiming to attract new buyers and strengthen Apple’s ecosystem.

Investor excitement is already visible, with Apple’s stock showing strong momentum in the past month. Analysts project that sales could climb by around 2 per cent to 232 million iPhones in 2026, helping the company maintain steady growth in its services business.

India is playing an increasingly important role in Apple’s strategy, both as a rising consumer market with more retail stores and a growing middle class, and as a key manufacturing hub. “At some point, India could start playing the kind of role that China has played for Apple, which would be a clear positive for the company’s growth,” said Viram Shah, Founder and CEO of Vested Finance.

IANS

Nepal PM Oli calls all-party meet as protests intensify

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Kathmandu, Sep 9:  Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli has called an all-party meeting for Tuesday evening after the situation in the country worsened following violent demonstrations that left 19 people dead and hundreds injured.

Authorities reimposed curfew across the Kathmandu Valley after fresh tensions erupted on Tuesday. However, hundreds of demonstrators marched towards the Parliament, defying security restrictions. What began as a peaceful Gen Z movement against alleged corruption and the government’s ban on social media turned into violent clashes with security forces, leading to 19 deaths.

On Tuesday, protests continued as people expressed outrage over the deaths caused by police firing the previous day. Crowds pelted stones at police, torched a traffic police booth, and attempted to storm into sensitive areas. Security personnel responded with tear gas to push back the protesters.

Local media reported that protesters also targeted the residences of key political leaders. According to the leading Nepalese daily, The Kathmandu Post, demonstrators set fire to the house of Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung, hurled stones at the residence of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, and attacked the house of former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.

They also targeted Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Biswo Paudel’s home. Protesters attempted to attack the residence of former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in Budhanilkantha but were stopped by security personnel.

They also pelted stones at the home of opposition leader and CPN-MC chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Demonstrations further spread to various districts, where residences of chief ministers, provincial ministers, and other leaders came under attack despite tighter security arrangements.

Amid the spiralling unrest, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned from his post after 19 people were killed in the violent crackdown. The government, without issuing any formal notification, also lifted its controversial ban on social media, which had triggered the youth-led protests in the first place.

resignation followed on Tuesday, when Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Ram Nath Adhikari stepped down, citing the state’s mishandling of the crisis. Sporadic protests continued in different parts of Kathmandu Valley, prompting local administrations to enforce curfews and ban gatherings as the political crisis deepened.

IANS

Thai Supreme Court orders former PM Thaksin back to jail after ruling hospital stay unlawful

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Bangkok, Sep 9: Thailand’s Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was unlawfully allowed to stay in hospital detention and should return to prison to complete his sentence.

The court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions concluded that Thaksin’s six-month hospital stay cannot be counted as time served for a one-year sentence, Xinhua News Agency reported.

“The time spent at a police hospital cannot be deducted as days of imprisonment,” the court statement said. “The defendant must therefore serve the prison sentence for one year according to a royal decree,” it said.

Thaksin returned to Thailand in August 2023 after over 15 years of self-imposed exile. Upon arrival, he was taken into custody to serve an 8-year sentence on three convictions involving corruption and abuse of power, which was later reduced to one year by royal pardon.

After serving less than 24 hours in jail, he was transferred from a Bangkok prison to the Police General Hospital, citing critical health concerns. The 76-year-old served as the Southern Asian country’s prime minister from 2001 to 2006. Earlier in August, Thailand’s criminal court acquitted former PM Thaksin Shinawatra on royal defamation charges over his remarks to foreign media a decade ago.

Thaksin has been found not guilty due to insufficient evidence to prove his wrongdoing, the court said in a statement. “The case was dismissed,” Thaksin said to reporters upon leaving the courthouse. The prosecution’s evidence presented failed to meet the burden of proof required for the indictment, said Thaksin’s lawyer Winyat Chatmontree.

Thaksin thanked his legal team after the verdict was read out, stating that he could now fully dedicate himself to working for the nation’s benefit, Winyat told reporters following the ruling. The Office of the Attorney General indicted Thaksin last year, accusing him of defaming the monarchy during a 2015 interview with a South Korean media outlet, which violated lese majeste and computer crime laws.

The lese-majeste law, or Section 112 of the Criminal Code, stipulates that whoever defames, insults, or threatens the king, queen, heir apparent, or regent shall be punished with imprisonment of three to 15 years.

IANS

Houses of Nepal PM Oli, other top leaders torched as unrest escalates

Kathmandu, Sep 9: As the demonstrations continued for the second day in Nepal on Tuesday, protestors torched and vandalised the houses of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, former Prime Ministers Sher Bahadur Deuba, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, and several other ministers.

The party headquarters of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) or CPN (UML) and Nepali Congress in the Kathmandu Valley were also defaced and set on fire. Torching and vandalism in the government offices in many parts of the country have also been reported by the local media.

According to local media, similar cases of vandalism and torching were also reported in several government offices of the nation. The authorities said that the situation in Kathmandu has remained tense as protests intensified in several parts of the valley despite the curfew imposed by the local administrations.

Enraged by the deaths of 19 people in police firing during the Gen Z protests on Monday, the country is seeing widespread demonstrations against the government led by Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli.

Fractures appear to have surfaced in the ruling coalition following the loss of lives in the protest, as at least four ministers have already resigned from their positions. After the Home Minister and Agriculture Minister, Minister for Health and Population Pradip Poudel and Minister for Youth and Sports Teju Lal Chaudhary have announced their resignation from their respective positions, expressing regret over the use of force against the Gen Z protestors.

Videos are circulating about the torching of Prime Minister Oli’s house at Balakot in Kathmandu’s Bhaktapur. The protestors have also forcefully entered the Singh Durbar, the main administrative centre of the government, according to the reports. Chief District Officer at the Lalitpur District Administration Office, Suman Ghimire, said that the protestors torched the residence of former Prime Minister Dahal, and they were gathering before residences allocated for government ministers.
“The situation is tense as protests have erupted in different parts of the district,” he said. Likewise, Bhaktapur district Chief District Officer Namaraj Ghimire said the situation has remained tense in the district.

“We have exercised maximum restraint and have not ordered to shoot at protestors,” he said. The local media also reported the torching of the houses of former Prime Minister De of a helicopter carryinguba, President Ram Chandra Poudel’s house, and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.

A video the ministers from their official residence has also surfaced on social media. There are also reports suggesting that Prime Minister Oli is departing for the United Arab Emirates for medical treatment.

The IANS has not verified this information. Due to ongoing protests near the airport that pose a risk to aeroplanes, Nepal has closed Tribhuvan International Airport, according to local media reports.

IANS

PCB Chief Naqvi rallies behind Pakistan ahead of Asia Cup

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Islamabad, Sep 8: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has thrown his weight behind the national team ahead of the Asia Cup, urging critics to hold back until the tournament concludes.
Pakistan enter the continental event on a confident note after clinching the Tri-series title against Afghanistan and the UAE, sealing the trophy with a thumping 75-run win over Afghanistan in the final.
Since Mike Hesson’s appointment as white-ball head coach in May, the side has won 10 of its 14 T20Is, showcasing a blend of youth and experience.
“Congratulations to Team Pakistan on winning the Tri-Series! This is a new but talented team playing fearless and aggressive cricket.
Under Head Coach Mike Hesson and his staff, we’ve won 10 out of 14 T20 matches already,” Naqvi wrote on X. “Let’s believe in our boys, coaches, and selectors. Full support to the Greens for the Asia Cup. Criticism and analysis can wait until after the tournament. Right now, they deserve our trust, support, and backing,” he added.
In the Tri-series decider, Pakistan set a target of 142 before their bowlers dismantled Afghanistan’s line-up for 66. Mohammad Nawaz was the star of the show, claiming a hat-trick across the sixth and seventh overs to leave Afghanistan reeling at 29/4. Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem chipped in with two wickets apiece as Pakistan wrapped up a dominant performance. (Agencies)

Asia Cup T20: All eyes on India as continental battle begins

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Dubai, Sep 8: Overwhelming favourites will be an understatement to define the Suryakumar Yadav-led India given the gulf between them and the seven other nations, including a mercurial Pakistan, when the battle for continental supremacy unfolds at the Asia Cup T20 tournament on Tuesday.
The action will begin with Afghanistan taking on Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi, but all eyes will be on Dubai, where a star-studded Indian team will be aiming to crush United Arab Emirates in its opener on Wednesday.
In a tournament that has often served as a dress rehearsal for the T20 World Cup, the Asia Cup this time comes with a sense of inevitability.
The weight of expectations is on the Indian team, not merely because of its pedigree but also because the balance of power has tilted decisively in its favour.
India, for all their internal debates and external expectations, look like the one side that has clarity of purpose.
And clarity, in high-pressure tournaments, often counts for more than raw talent.
If one takes into account leadership, and sheer depth of talent, then this is India’s tournament to lose.
Such has been the confidence that chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir didn’t for once entertain the idea of picking a 17-member squad allowed by the Asian Cricket Council.
Instead, they picked 15 like they do for ICC events even if it meant keeping out players like Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Winning the continental showpiece for the ninth time (seven in ODI format and one in T20 format in 2016) would neither earn Suryakumar or head coach Gautam Gambhir any extra credit.But anything short of trophy would invite a deluge of criticism given that the T20 World Cup is set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka in four and half months’ time.
Suryakumar and his colleagues have around 20 games (if they reach Asia Cup final) before the global event starts.
Getting the core combination right would be a major goal for the side.
India is such a powerhouse that at this point BCCI has the ability to field three national T20 teams of equal strength.
Suryakumar has been a phenomenal skipper so far with an astounding 80 per cent win record but now the leadership group will have vice-captain Shubman Gill, who is expected to take charge from the Mumbaikar in due course of time.
How the T20 skipper and Test skipper align and sing from the same hymn sheet will certainly be watched with a lot of interest.
The manner in which Indian batters reinvented the grammar of T20 batting, largely due to IPL exposure, has been difficult to match for teams like Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who were on even keel till a decade and half back.
Who can stop India
The broader storyline of the Asia Cup is therefore less about who can win it and more about

Who can stop India.

Their depth dwarfs Pakistan’s transitional experiment and Sri Lanka’s rebuilt side. Salman Ali Agha’s Pakistan team bears a young and fresh look.
The dropping of Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan is PCB’s clearest admission yet that reputations cannot hold a team hostage. But their success will largely depend more on how Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Hasan Ali bowl against a flamboyant Indian batting line-up.
Pakistan would feel confident that they hammered Afghanistan by 75 runs in a low-scoring final of a tri-nation where their spinners dominated on a slow Sharjah track.Sri Lanka, under Charith Asalanka, aren’t bad either but whether they have the consistency to win six to seven games in a tournament is a big question. Bangladesh, who remain mercurial in the shortest format, lack the firepower to sustain a challenge across the full length of the tournament.
To be fair, in group B, Bangladesh look like the second team that will be eliminated apart from Hong Kong.That leaves Afghanistan as the only realistic stumbling block, a team whose spinners led by the peerless Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmed and the new kid on the block, A Ghazanfar, are expected to choke oppositions during the middle overs.
Add to that, a batting order that can punch harder than ever before.

The ‘Minnows’

As Oman deputy head coach Sulakshan Kulkarni put it during an interview with PTI, there is bound to be nervousness but the associate nations would look at games against India and Pakistan as an opportunity where a bigger audience can watch them ply their trade.
As far as the Indian team is concerned, in their group, their will be 12 NRIs pitted against them — six from UAE and another six from Oman.For UAE, Oman and Hong Kong , this is a tournament of reckoning and to showcase how far they have come in the past few years with improved infrastructure and better quality of expats from India and Pakistan representing them.
Bowling to a Suryakumar or facing a Jasprit Bumrah is a rare experience for these teams.
For now, the Asia Cup T20 carries one truth that towers above the rest: it is India’s tournament to lose. (PTI)

UAE coach Rajput eyes upset against India in Asia Cup

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Dubai, Sep 8: UAE head coach Lalchand Rajput is relishing the prospect of facing his former pupil, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir, as his side gears up for their Asia Cup T20 opener against the tournament favourites at the Dubai International Stadium on Wednesday.
Placed in Group A, the fixture appears heavily tilted in India’s favour on paper.
While India arrive after a grueling five-Test series in England with limited T20 action, the UAE have gained valuable match practice through a recent tri-series against Pakistan and Afghanistan, despite losing all their games.
Rajput, a former India Test batter, admitted the gulf between the two sides but believes the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket leaves room for surprises.
“India is a big team. They were the champions in the last World Cup.
But in T20s, the team that performs better on the day wins. A single batter or bowler can change the game. We will play fearless cricket,” he said.The UAE, returning to the Asia Cup after 2016, will bank on captain Muhammad Waseem, big-hitter Asif Khan, and a spin attack that Rajput feels could trouble India. “Our batting is strong, and we have good spinners.
The players have experience of playing in the UAE. There will be nervousness, but I think our players are ready,” he added.
Asked to identify India’s biggest threat, Rajput said the entire squad is packed with “match-winners”, citing the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma.
For Rajput, the occasion is also personal, as he prepares to reunite with Gambhir after many years. “He was the highest run-scorer in the 2007 T20 World Cup. I will meet him after a long time, and I am definitely looking forward to it,” Rajput said.
Squads: UAE: Muhammad Waseem (capt), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wk), Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar, Ethan D’Souza, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Matiullah Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra (wk), Rohid Khan, Simranjeet Singh, Saghir Khan. (Agencies)

Asia Cup 2025 matches

Date Match Group/Stage Time Venue
September 9 Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Group B 8:00 PM Abu Dhabi
September 10 India vs UAE Group A 8:00 PM Dubai
September 11 Bangladesh vs Hong Kong Group B 8:00 PM Abu Dhabi
September 12 Pakistan vs Oman Group A 8:00 PM Dubai
September 13 Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Group B 8:00 PM Abu Dhabi
September 14 India vs Pakistan Group A 8:00 PM Dubai
September 15 UAE vs Oman Group A 5:30 PM Abu Dhabi
September 15 Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong Group B 8:00 PM Dubai
September 16 Bangladesh vs Afghanistan Group B 8:00 PM Abu Dhabi
September 17 Pakistan vs UAE Group A 8:00 PM Dubai
September 18 Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Group B 8:00 PM Abu Dhabi
September 19 India vs Oman Group A 8:00 PM Abu Dhabi
September 20 Group B Qualifier 1 vs Group B Qualifier 2 Super 4 8:00 PM Dubai
September 21 Group A Qualifier 1 vs Group A Qualifier 2 Super 4 8:00 PM Dubai
September 23 Group A Qualifier 1 vs Group B Qualifier 2 Super 4 8:00 PM Abu Dhabi
September 24 Group B Qualifier 1 vs Group A Qualifier 2 Super 4 8:00 PM Dubai
September 25 Group A Qualifier 2 vs Group B Qualifier 2 Super 4 8:00 PM Dubai
September 26 Group A Qualifier 1 vs Group B Qualifier 1 Super 4 8:00 PM Dubai
September 28 Final 8:00 PM Dubai