Match preview: India v the UAE

2015 World Cup

Cricket365
February 28, 2015

Venue

The WACA, Perth

Team news

India have gotten much of their hard work out of the way already, with wins against Pakistan and South Africa, while the UAE will be facing a major nation for the first time at this World Cup, with much trepidation.

This game at the WACA, which will suit India's fast bowlers, has the potential to derail the current trend of smaller sides doing well or running sides close, especially if India bat first and their top order gets going.

India will be without paceman Mohammed Shami, who was ruled out on Friday with a knee niggle, meaning Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav are set to lead the attack. All-rounder Stuart Binny is set to get a game.

The UAE have done well with the bat so far, making 285 and 278 in their clashes against Zimbabwe and Ireland, and are likely to stick to that line-up. Skipper Mohammad Tauqir's decent run with the ball could come to an end though.

Last encounter

It's been 11 years since the sides last met, in Dambulla in 2004 in the Asia Cup. India won that clash by 116 runs, with a Rahul Dravid century seeing them make 260 for six. The UAE were all out for 144, with Irfan Pathan and Sachin Tendulkar taking three wickets each.

World Cup meetings

The UAE last played in a World Cup in 1996, their maiden appearance, but did not come up against India. They won a single fixture there, beating the Netherlands in Faisalabad by seven wickets.

Key players

For India, it depends on what happens with the toss. If they bat first then any one of the top order could score some big runs, with Virat Kohli likely to be ruthless. If they bowl, Umesh Yadav could clean up nicely.

The UAE have one player who has done really well so far, and that's middle order batsman Shaiman Anwar. He made a century against Ireland and a half ton against Zimbabwe, so if anyone's going to score a few runs, it'll be him.

Umpires

Michael Gough and Billy Bowden, Nigel Llong (3rd umpire), Ranjan Madugalle (match referee)

Weather

It's Perth, what do you reckon? Clear, hot, good times for the Asian sides.

Prediction

India should win this at a canter. The UAE have been admirable so far, but this will be a bridge too long.