What began as a routine warm-up game for India against Oman quickly escalated into an unexpected thriller at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. The match, intended to prepare India for their upcoming clash with Pakistan, became a nail-biter that tested the nerves of skipper Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir.
India eventually secured a narrow 21-run victory. After winning the toss and choosing to bat, India set a target of 188 for 8 on a challenging Abu Dhabi pitch. Oman, in response, scored 167 for 4.
SKY’s Baffling Call
Prior to their high-stakes match against Pakistan, India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak had emphasized the importance of a flexible middle order for the Asia Cup. He stated that apart from openers Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, other batsmen would be deployed strategically based on match conditions.
However, on Friday, India’s batting lineup saw a radical reshuffle. Sanju Samson batted at number three, while captain Suryakumar Yadav surprisingly kept demoting himself. This tactic turned bizarre when Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav all batted before him, leaving the captain at number 11 as the only player who didn’t face a ball.
For this game, India had rested key bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy, giving opportunities to leading wicket-takers Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.
Sanju Hits Breezy Fifty, Axar Sparkles
Among India’s experimental middle order, Sanju Samson and Axar Patel were the only ones who truly capitalized on their chances against Oman.
Sanju Samson, entering at number three to a roaring crowd, notched his slowest T20I fifty, reaching the milestone in 41 balls. Despite hitting three sixes, his innings lacked its usual fluidity.
Axar Patel, conversely, was in blistering form, scoring 26 runs off just 13 balls. He greeted Aamir Kaleem with a powerful six, though the left-arm spinner eventually had the last word. In an attempt to hit another big shot, Axar lost his balance, got a faint under-edge, and was smartly caught by the wicketkeeper.
Hardik Pandya suffered an unfortunate dismissal, run out at the non-striker’s end. A mistimed drive from Samson was deflected by Jiten Ramanandi’s fingertips onto the stumps, catching Hardik just short of his crease despite a desperate dive.
Earlier, opener Shubman Gill departed cheaply for 5 runs, falling victim to a classic left-arm delivery from Shah Faisal that swung late and rattled his stumps.
Abhishek Sharma maintained his explosive batting, blasting a quickfire 38 off just 15 balls, starting Shakeel’s over with a four and a six, and finishing it with another boundary.
Tilak Varma contributed 29 runs with two crucial sixes, while Harshit Rana, who had shown promising form in the nets, concluded India’s innings with a six of his own.
Oman’s bowling attack saw Shah Faisal (2/23), Jiten Ramanandi (2/33), and Aamir Kaleem (2/32) each taking two wickets.
Oman Show Fight
Despite being eliminated from the tournament with three consecutive losses, Oman displayed remarkable resilience against the cricketing powerhouse, India.
India, the clear favorites, approached the match like a practice session – arriving late, making several changes to their playing XI, and experimenting freely with their batting order, including captain Suryakumar Yadav’s surprising decision not to bat. For Oman, however, facing India for the very first time was a momentous occasion.
Oman’s team bus arrived a full ninety minutes before their Indian counterparts, and their players radiated enthusiasm during warm-ups. At the toss, Captain Jatinder Singh warmly greeted Suryakumar Yadav and even presented him with a token gift.
Oman’s left-arm pacer Shah Faisal delivered a dream ball to dismiss Shubman Gill, marking a wicket-maiden. This made him the first bowler from an Associate nation to bowl a maiden over within the first six overs against India.
Their batting performance was equally commendable.
Openers Jatinder Singh (32) and Aamir Kaleem (64) forged a courageous 50-run partnership. Notably, they became the first opening pair in 14 matches to deny India a wicket in the powerplay, a feat last achieved by Sri Lanka in July 2024. This also marked the first time Oman’s openers remained unscathed against a full-member nation during the powerplay.
Veteran Aamir Kaleem, despite struggling with cramps, played a spirited half-century, scoring 64 off 46 balls, including seven fours and two sixes. His impressive innings concluded when Hardik Pandya executed a brilliant running catch, breaking a crucial 93-run second-wicket partnership.
Hammad Mirza also contributed a fighting fifty, entertaining with back-to-back sixes off Kuldeep Yadav. He scored 51 before his wicket effectively signaled the end of Oman’s valiant chase.