Abu Dhabi, September 19, 2025 – India survived a major scare in their Asia Cup 2025 group-stage clash, edging past a spirited Oman side that came agonizingly close to pulling off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.
Despite India’s reputation as heavy favorites, it was Oman who walked away with the praise for their courage, determination, and ability to push the World T20I champions to the brink.
On a batting-friendly surface, India opted to bat first and posted a competitive 189. Their innings, however, lacked fluency. Abhishek Sharma’s aggressive start set the tone, but early wickets pegged India back. Sanju Samson, who was eventually named Player of the Match, played a gritty knock of 56 off 45 balls. Though scratchy at times, he managed to anchor the innings when it mattered. Oman’s bowlers, led by Shah Faisal with figures of 2 for 27, impressed with their discipline. Jiten Ramanandi and Aamir Kaleem also chipped in with two wickets each, while sharp fielding restricted India to under 200, a feat not many teams manage against such a deep batting order.
Chasing 189 was always going to be a tall task for Oman, but their openers Jatinder Singh and Aamir Kaleem laid down a solid platform. They reached 44 without loss in the Powerplay, showing patience against India’s pace attack. Both batsmen went on to score half-centuries, delighting the Oman supporters who turned up in good numbers. Even when Kuldeep Yadav finally broke the stand, Oman did not lose their resolve. Partnerships in the middle order kept the scoreboard ticking, and with ten overs left, they were still within touching distance of history.
India’s bowling looked unconvincing, with as many as eight bowlers used in search of breakthroughs. Hardik Pandya’s sharp fielding eventually tilted the game back in India’s favor, dismissing Aamir Kaleem with a spectacular catch. Once that wicket fell, the pressure mounted on Oman, and the chase unraveled in the final overs. Still, they finished with pride, falling short but earning immense respect.
After the game, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav praised Oman for playing “an unbelievable brand of cricket,” admitting his side experimented with combinations and nearly paid the price. On the other hand, Oman captain Jatinder Singh expressed immense pride in his team’s maiden Asia Cup campaign, highlighting their execution, fighting spirit, and plans to carry this momentum into the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers, which will be hosted in Oman.
The result means India advance to the Super Four unbeaten, alongside Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. But the story of the night belonged to Oman. Making their first Asia Cup appearance, they showcased maturity, resilience, and skill that will inspire not just their own cricket community, but associate nations around the globe.
As the tournament now heads into its decisive stage, one thing is certain: Oman may have bowed out, but they have left an indelible mark on Asia Cup 2025 with a performance that will be remembered for years to come.