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India vs Oman, Asia Cup 2025: Hat-Trick of Wins for Men in Blue
India continued their unbeaten run in the Asia Cup 2025, defeating a spirited Oman by 21 runs in an entertaining group stage encounter at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, on September 19. Suryakumar Yadav’s men, already qualified for the Super Four, used the match to test squad depth, while Oman proved worthy opponents who refused to roll over for the giants.
India’s Batting – Fire and Flexibility
Winning the toss and choosing to bat first, India experimented with their batting lineup. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav chose to hold himself back, slotting in at number 11 and eventually not batting, allowing every other player a hit in the middle. The innings was anchored by Sanju Samson, who notched a composed 56 off 45 balls – his first T20I half-century since 2024. Samson, coming at number three, steadied the innings after a brisk start.
Abhishek Sharma set the tone with a blistering 38 off just 15 balls, smashing five fours and two sixes and providing the early surge India needed. Other useful contributions came from Axar Patel, who added a valuable 26 from 13, and Tilak Varma (20 from 13), helping India close at an imposing 188/8 from their 20 overs.
Oman’s bowlers stuck to their task, with Shah Faisal, Aamir Kaleem, and Jiten Ramanandi each taking two wickets. Their discipline, especially in the death overs, restricted India from breaching the 200-run mark despite the late hitting attempts.
Oman's Chase – Grit and Class
Oman’s reply was defined by belief rather than reputation. Opener Jatinder Singh played a steady hand (32 from 33 balls), setting a platform for the fireworks to come. The major resistance was staged by Aamir Kaleem, who blazed 64 off 46 balls, including seven boundaries and two sixes. Partnered by Hammad Mirza, who powered to 51 not out off 33, Oman took the fight deep into the chase.
India’s spinners, led by Kuldeep Yadav (1/23), stifled the middle overs, while Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana took key wickets when Oman threatened. Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Tilak Varma kept their composure at the death, ensuring Oman always had to deal with a rising required rate.
Despite losing only four wickets, the chase eventually fizzled as boundaries dried up under scoreboard pressure. Oman finished at 167/4, a highly respectable total but still 21 short of the target set by India.
Arshdeep’s Record, India’s Depth
The match saw Arshdeep Singh become the fastest Indian to reach 100 T20I wickets, achieving the feat in just 64 matches. His precision at the death has been one of India’s biggest assets throughout the tournament.
India’s willingness to shuffle the batting order – and the faith placed in young guns like Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma – illustrated the team’s depth and confidence as they gear up for stiffer Super Four competition. The decision to rest Suryakumar Yadav from batting and instead test the bench players’ mettle proved crucial for maintaining freshness across the squad before their upcoming blockbuster against Pakistan.
Post-match Reactions
Captain Suryakumar Yadav praised Oman’s fight and spirit, singling out their coach Sulakshan Kulkarni’s tenacity as a driving factor behind the team’s grit. He emphasized that while India achieved a “perfect group stage,” there would be no complacency heading into the Super Four, especially with the pressure and expectation of facing arch-rivals Pakistan next.
Oman captain Jatinder Singh, meanwhile, commended his team’s character. He focused on the positives, highlighting how this experience against world-class opposition could fuel Oman’s ambitions in the World Cup qualifiers to follow.
Looking Ahead: The Big Rivalry Awaits
With a record of three wins from three, India finished atop their group and ensured they carry strong momentum and confidence into the next round. Their next match – a Super Four face-off against Pakistan in Dubai – will draw global attention as the rivalry reignites in a high-stakes setting.
For Oman, the close-fought defeat to India will rank as one of their finest T20 efforts, offering vital lessons and self-belief to take forward.
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Scorecard Snapshot
India: 188/8 (Sanju Samson 56, Abhishek Sharma 38; Shah Faisal 2/23, Aamir Kaleem 2/27)
Oman: 167/4 (Aamir Kaleem 64, Hammad Mirza 51*; Kuldeep Yadav 1/23, Arshdeep Singh 1/28)
Result: India won by 21 runs.
India’s perfect group stage run sets the stage for Asia Cup’s most awaited clashes. Oman, meanwhile, earn new fans for their resilience and style under pressure.
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