TimesofIndia.com in Abu Dhabi: Oman turned a routine fixture into a thriller at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Friday, rattling India before the favourites scraped through with a narrow win. What was meant to be a warm-up for the Pakistan clash turned into a nail-biter, as skipper Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir watched nervously while their side survived Oman’s spirited charge.India eked out a narrow 21-run win over Oman. After opting to bat first, India posted 188 for 8 on a sluggish Abu Dhabi track. In reply, Oman managed 167 for 4.
SKY’s baffling call
Ahead of the Pakistan match earlier in the tournament, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak insisted that flexibility would be the key to India’s middle order in the Asia Cup. He made it clear that beyond the opening pair of Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, the rest of the batters would be used as floaters depending on the situation.
India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav at the toss (Creimas/Asian Cricket Council via PTI Photo)
On Friday, India turned their middle order on its head. Sanju Samson was sent in at No. 3, while captain Suryakumar Yadav kept sliding himself down. But the ploy spiralled into farce as Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav batted ahead of him — leaving the India captain stranded at No. 11, the only player who didn’t have to come out with the blade.India rested Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy, while leading wicket-takers Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana got their chance.
Sanju hits breezy fifty, Axar sparkles
In India’s floating middle-order, only Sanju Samson and Axar Patel made the most of their opportunities against Oman.Samson walked in at No. 3 to the loudest cheer from the packed Abu Dhabi crowd. He brought up his slowest T20I fifty, off 41 balls, striking three sixes but never looking fully fluent.Axar Patel, in contrast, was in dismissive touch during his 13-ball 26. He welcomed Aamir Kaleem with a six, but the left-arm spinner had the last laugh. Trying to overhit, Axar lost his shape, got a faint under-edge, and was sharply caught by the keeper.
India’s Sanju Samson plays a shot during the Asia Cup 2025 cricket match between India and Oman (Creimas/Asian Cricket Council via PTI Photo)
Hardik Pandya fell in the unluckiest fashion — run out at the non-striker’s end. Samson’s mistimed drive popped up, and Jiten Ramanandi’s fingertip deflection rolled onto the stumps. Hardik stretched desperately to make his ground but was just short.Earlier, India had lost Shubman Gill (5) — undone by a classic left-arm delivery. Shah Faisal’s late swing went straight through the gates.Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma continued his explosive form, smashing a 15-ball 38. The southpaw teed off with a four and a six before ending Shakeel’s over with another boundary.Tilak Varma (29) added the finishing touches with a couple of big sixes, and Harshit Rana, who had impressed in the nets the previous day, signed off India’s innings with a six. For Oman, Shah Faisal (2/23), Jiten Ramanandi (2/33), and Aamir Kaleem (2/32) claimed two wickets each.
Oman show fight
Oman bowed out of the tournament with three consecutive losses but showed real fight against India.India, the hot favourites, treated it like a warm-up — arriving late at the venue, making changes in the XI, and experimenting with the batting order. Captain Suryakumar even decided not to bat. But for Oman, it was a landmark occasion — playing India for the first time.Oman’s team bus arrived an hour and a half before India’s. They looked pumped during warm-ups. Captain Jatinder Singh embraced his counterpart Suryakumar Yadav at the toss and even presented him with a gift.Oman’s left-arm quick Shah Faisal bowled a dream delivery to castle Shubman Gill and finished with a wicket-maiden — becoming the first bowler from an Associate side to bowl a maiden inside the first six overs against India.
Oman’s Aamir Kaleem (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
With the bat, Oman were equally impressive.Openers Jatinder Singh (32) and Aamir Kaleem (64) put on a gutsy 50-run stand. They became the first opening pair in 14 matches to keep India wicketless in the powerplay. The last time India didn’t pick up a wicket in the powerplay was against Sri Lanka in July 2024. It was also the first time Oman’s openers went wicketless against a full-member side in the powerplay.Veteran Aamir Kaleem, battling cramps, struck a feisty half-century. His knock ended when Hardik Pandya took a stunning running catch, breaking the 93-run second-wicket stand. He scored 64 off 46 balls, with seven boundaries and two sixes.Hammad Mirza also completed a fighting half-century. His back-to-back sixes off Kuldeep Yadav were a delight, and he scored 51 before his dismissal ended Oman’s spirited chase.
