• Source:PTI
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Asia Cup 2025: India captain Suryakumar Yadav has lauded the energy and commitment of his teammates on the opening day of training ahead of the Asia Cup, saying their intensity and skill sets gave him confidence going into the tournament.

India will begin their campaign against hosts UAE on September 10, followed by the marquee clash with Pakistan on September 14 and against Oman on September 19. The playoffs will begin on September 20.

Defending champions India had a full-fledged practice session at the ICC Academy here on Friday as they put the finishing touches to their Asia Cup preparations.

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"To have such a brilliant bunch around with unbelievable skill sets, I always have a smile on my face when I see those boys on the ground," Suryakumar, returning to action after undergoing surgery for a sports hernia, said in a video posted by BCCI on 'X'.

"Because the way they put their body on the line, that's what I want from them. And they just enjoy on the ground.”

Vice-captain Shubman Gill, who recently captained India to a 2-2 draw in the England Test series, echoed his skipper's sentiment.

“Very excited obviously. I think it's a great group. And the way we have been playing in the T20s is nothing short of entertaining and terrific cricket. So, very excited to join the group,” said Gill.

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The 25-year-old from Punjab attracted plenty of attention during fitness drills and net sessions, with Sanju Samson, Jitesh Sharma, Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma also having extended batting stints on day one of their training on Friday.

This is the first time the team has assembled together since the 2-2 Test series draw in England. Several players, including Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav, had a month's rest before rejoining the squad.