Overview

• India’s 15-player squad assembled directly in Dubai under a BCCI plan and held a full practice at the ICC Academy on September 5 ahead of the UAE opener on September 10.
• Jasprit Bumrah returned to T20 preparations with full-intensity drills, and Sunil Gavaskar said a four-over T20 workload poses no concern for the pacer.
• Sanju Samson versus Jitesh Sharma remains the key wicketkeeper call, with Gavaskar forecasting Samson could start the early games and even slot at No. 3.
• Team balance talks include Axar Patel’s all-round role, with Gavaskar suggesting either Rinku Singh or Shivam Dube may initially miss out to firm up bowling depth.
• Pakistan arrive with a new-look T20 side under coach Mike Hesson, with reports of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan left out, as India share Group A with Pakistan, UAE and Oman before a final on September 28 in Dubai.