Following a captivating Asia Cup encounter in Abu Dhabi on Friday, September 19, 2025, India’s T20 captain, Suryakumar Yadav, made a memorable gesture. He personally approached the Oman cricket team, offering sincere praise for their performance and sharing encouraging words.
Despite a valiant effort, Oman ultimately fell short by 21 runs against the formidable Indian squad. As the post-match routines concluded, Suryakumar readily engaged with the Oman players, responding to a request from their deputy head coach, Sulakshan Kulkarni. Kulkarni, who had witnessed Suryakumar’s journey since his Under-16 days, facilitated the interaction. The Indian skipper, always gracious, greeted Oman’s captain Jatinder Singh and his determined team with a warm smile, eager to share insights.
A widely shared social media post from Sony Sports Network captured this touching interaction, highlighting ‘encouraging words from India’s captain to Oman’s heroes’.
Oman skipper Jatinder Singh expressed his gratitude, stating, “Suryakumar’s insights on the game and his praise meant a great deal to us. Our players had many questions regarding various phases of T20 gameplay, and it was truly beneficial to discuss these with him.”
This informal gathering on the vibrant outfield exuded warmth and mutual respect. Suryakumar commended the entire Oman team for their fearlessness, noting how they played with remarkable freedom, unfazed by the reputations of their opponents.
Highlighting Standout Performances
Specifically, he singled out the two half-centurions, Aamir Kaleem and Hammad Mirza, for their exceptional and fearless batting. Suryakumar assured them that such performances against a team like India would undoubtedly serve as a powerful inspiration for aspiring cricketers back in Oman.
The interaction concluded with cheerful smiles and a flurry of camera flashes, as Suryakumar graciously posed for selfies and a group photograph with the delighted Oman cricketers.
Though brief, this moment perfectly illustrated why the Indian skipper is widely admired as a true ‘people’s cricketer,’ exemplifying grace and sportsmanship.