'No hype?' - Former cricketer slams empty seats during India vs UAE clash in Asia Cup

India may have begun their Asia Cup title defence with a dominant nine-wicket win over the UAE in Dubai, but the sight of empty stands was an eyesore compared to the action on the pitch. Former India cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra expressed concern over the lack of crowd presence, questioning why fans stayed away despite India’s return to the white-ball format after a gap. “We always say this, don’t we — that if you make India play even on the moon, people will turn up wearing the blue jersey to watch them. And here, the match was happening in Dubai, with the Indian team out there in blue after such a long time. And this isn’t some random bilateral series — it’s the Asia Cup,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

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Pointing out that the match offered both build-up and star power, Chopra noted the absence of the expected buzz.

“Other than India–Pakistan, what bigger draw could there be? India drives the economy of cricket. Wherever India goes, whenever they play, whoever they play, especially after a long gap, people should come. But here, people didn’t,” he remarked.

Chopra suggested that the rather subdued atmosphere reflected deeper issues with the tournament’s timing and context. “This tournament hasn’t created the buzz. For whatever reason — there just isn’t enough talk about it,” he explained, adding that while the Asia Cup remains a valuable event, the hype was missing this time.

The former cricketer also questioned whether Dubai itself faced challenges as a cricketing venue despite its world-class facilities. “We’ve seen it before with ILT20 and with other matches in the UAE. Maybe it’s an overdose. Champions Trophy was an exception because it was an ICC event. People flew in from everywhere. But otherwise, people just don’t turn up here,” he observed.

Chopra also sent out a warning for organisers. “If the UAE wants to establish itself as a legitimate cricket destination, they’ll need to find a way to make locals show up. Because if people don’t turn up for India’s matches, that’s a big concern,” he said.