India’s opening game of the Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai was filled with drama, even in a contest that proved one-sided. While the bowlers ripped through the UAE batting order to bowl them out for just 57, a quirky incident featuring Sanju Samson briefly stole the spotlight and evoked memories of Jonny Bairstow’s infamous dismissal in the 2023 Ashes.
The moment arrived in the 13th over of the innings. Shivam Dube steamed in to bowl to Junaid Siddique, but as he delivered the short ball, a towel slipped from his waist.
Siddique backed away and missed his pull, then pointed immediately to the towel.
Distracted, he failed to return to the crease. Sanju Samson, alert behind the stumps, gathered the ball and fired an underarm direct hit. The replay showed Siddique short of his ground, and flashed on the big screen.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! However, the appeal was soon withdrawn by skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who acknowledged that the batter had been put off by the towel distraction.
The episode drew comparisons with the Lord’s Test of July 2023, when Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey stumped Jonny Bairstow after the Englishman left his crease believing the ball was dead.
That dismissal sparked days of heated debate and polarized opinions across cricketing circles.
Samson’s effort was sharp, but the context was different. There was no question of gamesmanship here, only presence of mind followed by a sporting gesture.
In the end, the “not quite Bairstow moment” added a touch of lightness to a match otherwise dominated by India’s bowlers.
Kuldeep Yadav was the star, taking 4 for 7 in a spell of wizardry, while Dube backed up his batting all-rounder credentials with 3 for 4.
Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy chipped in with one wicket apiece. For the UAE, opener Alishan Sharafu resisted briefly with 22, but the side collapsed in just 13.1 overs.
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