Hong Kong Sixes 2025: India crash out of quarterfinals race after losses to Kuwait, UAE and Nepal

Published - 08 Nov 2025, 13:45 IST | Updated - 08 Nov 2025, 14:08 IST

Team India’s campaign at the Hong Kong Sixes 2025 came to a disappointing end on Saturday as they failed to make it to the quarterfinals after suffering consecutive defeats against Kuwait, UAE, and Nepal. Despite being seen as one of the tournament favourites with names like Dinesh Karthik, Robin Uthappa, Stuart Binny, Shahbaz Nadeem, Abhimanyu Mithun, and Priyank Panchal, India’s performances fell well below expectations in the six-a-side format.

India began their campaign with a narrow 2-run win over arch-rivals Pakistan in a rain-affected contest. However, following that, the team struggled to adapt to the pressure of the format against lesser-fancied teams. India’s troubles began in their Pool C clash against Kuwait, where they suffered a shock 27-run defeat. Opting to bowl first, India looked in the game until Yasin Patel smashed five consecutive sixes en route to an unbeaten 58 off 14 balls. Kuwait finished at 106/5 in 6 overs. In reply, India’s batting collapsed, losing early wickets and eventually folding for 79/6 in 5.4 overs.

India defeat Pakistan by 2 runs in Hong Kong Sixes face-off

Only hours later, India faced the United Arab Emirates, and the woes continued. Batting first, India posted 107/3, courtesy of a partnership between Abhimanyu Mithun (50) and Dinesh Karthik (42). However, the UAE’s openers Khalid Shah and Saghir Khan ran into India’s bowling attack, smashing 42 runs in the first two overs. The chase was completed in 5.5 overs, as UAE reached 111/2, winning by four wickets and handing India their second straight loss of the tournament.

India’s performance against Nepal was another shocker. Nepal produced a record-breaking effort, posting 137/0 in 6 overs, the highest total of the tournament. Openers dominated the Indian bowlers. In reply, India collapsed spectacularly, managing only 45/6 in 3 overs, suffering a massive 92-run defeat, one of their heaviest in the tournament’s history. With three consecutive losses after their lone win over Pakistan, India’s hopes of reaching the Hong Kong Sixes 2025 quarterfinals were quashed.