We’ve turned the corner: UAE find belief after Chopra’s ton and win over Scotland

Dubai: From flat pitches to freezing conditions, the UAE's tour of the Netherlands has tested the side on multiple fronts. But according to head coach Lalchand Rajput and captain Rahul Chopra, the team may have finally found its spark — and perhaps, its turning point.

“We want to make a habit of winning,” Rajput said after UAE’s convincing victory over Scotland in Amstelveen, which saw the team post 296 and go on to defend it with authority. “That one win makes a team even stronger. I think you will see a different team playing from now on.” UAE will be meeting hosts Netherlands in their next match on Monday in the Cricket World Cup League 2.

At the heart of the turnaround was Chopra, who scored his maiden century and anchored the innings with a composed knock that set the tone for UAE’s batting effort. His confidence, even before the match, was telling.

“I had the belief that I would do well on this tour,” Chopra said. “It was my first century, but I want to carry on the form. We hope we can get full points and win the next two matches. Our next games are at home, so we have that advantage too.”

Rajput pointed to the strong opening partnership and an emphasis on long innings as key developments. “Captain played a brilliant innings. He showed the boys, ‘Yes, we can do it.’ It’s not just about starts — we want players converting 50s into hundreds. That’s our mission.”

UAE had struggled early in the tour but gained confidence from warm-up games, including a two-day match against a Netherlands select XI. “We bowled them out for 176 and chased it down with just two wickets lost,” Rajput said. “Aryansh Sharma showed great temperament — that’s what we need in these longer games.”

Chopra echoed the sentiment, noting how rare it is to get exposure to longer formats in the UAE, where white-ball cricket dominates. “We play a lot of T10 and T20 at home, so this format is different,” he said. “The two-day games, which the pool of 45 UAE players played among themselves in a two-round contest, taught us how to control our temperament, build an innings, and play to the situation.”

While the batters earned praise, the bowlers have quietly built momentum too. “Simranjeet Singh was outstanding,” Rajput said. “He took four wickets the previous game and has been bowling the best of all. Fast; bowlers are chipping in well. Yes, we’re doing well — but there’s room to improve.”

Both coach and captain highlighted how quickly the team adapted to the Dutch conditions. “It was cold, but we got used to it,” said Chopra. “The camp before the tour helped. We practised on difficult wickets, and that preparation paid off.”

As UAE get ready to face the Netherlands again, confidence is brimming. “The momentum is good. The boys are positive,” Rajput said. “We’ve got every chance to play good cricket and give both Scotland and Netherlands a run for their money.”

Chopra summed up the team’s mindset in simple terms: “The motive of every player is to make the best of the opportunity.”