Team India, under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, is gearing up to face Oman in their last Asia Cup group stage fixture in Abu Dhabi this Friday. Having already secured a coveted spot in the Super 4s, India sees this match as an invaluable opportunity for some much-needed batting practice, particularly for its middle-order batsmen, ahead of their highly anticipated rematch against Pakistan on Sunday.
After two consecutive low-scoring chases in their previous games, the Indian squad would ideally prefer to bat first against an Oman side that has struggled throughout the tournament. This approach would allow them to maximize their 20 overs and build confidence.
While openers like Abhishek Sharma have shown flashes of brilliance, Shubman Gill will be looking for extended time at the crease. Captain Suryakumar Yadav is keen for young talent Tilak Varma to gain more valuable batting experience.
The middle order, featuring power-hitters such as Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, and Axar Patel, desperately needs significant batting time before the tournament enters its critical phase, which could see India playing up to four matches in just seven days if they reach the final.
India’s bowling attack appears robust and well-prepared to challenge Oman’s batting lineup. Spin sensations Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy are expected to pose substantial threats to Jatinder Singh’s team, who have struggled to put up competitive totals.
Oman’s batting unit has indeed had a disappointing run, managing only 67 against Pakistan and 130 against UAE in their previous encounters. Alarmingly, no Omani batter has managed to cross the 30-run mark in either game, with Hammad Mirza’s 27 against Pakistan and Aryan Bisht’s 24 off 32 balls against UAE standing as their highest individual scores.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir might consider giving a rest to pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah before the intense Super 4s stage. This could open the door for Arshdeep Singh to feature in the playing XI. Furthermore, Harshit Rana might also get a chance if Gambhir opts to rest either Varun or Kuldeep.
The upcoming match also serves as an opportunity for the team to move beyond the recent controversy surrounding their decision not to shake hands with Pakistan players – a gesture made in solidarity and respect for the 26 Indian tourists tragically killed in the Pahalgam terror attack.
The conditions at Sheikh Zayed Stadium remain a bit of an enigma, as this will be India’s only game at this venue during the entire tournament. The team has decided against extensive travel to Abu Dhabi for training, deeming the two-hour one-way bus journey too exhausting when combined with their regular three-hour practice sessions. Instead, they will adopt an ‘in and out’ approach: traveling on match day, playing the game, and returning to their base at night, followed by a much-needed rest day on Saturday before their crucial Pakistan clash on Sunday.
India vs Oman Head-to-Head
Historically, India and Oman have never crossed paths in a T20 International match. However, an India A side, captained by Tilak Varma, did defeat Oman by 6 wickets in the Emerging Asia Cup last year.
This makes the upcoming match a monumental challenge for an already-eliminated Oman. Their only victories against ICC’s full-member nations have come against Ireland, in 2016 and 2019.
India vs Oman Live Streaming Details
- Date: September 19, 2025
- Time: 8:00 PM IST / 6:30 PM Local Time
- Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
- TV Channels: Sony Sports Network
- Live Streaming: SonyLiv
India vs Oman Squads
India Squad:
Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, and Rinku Singh.
Oman Squad:
Jatinder Singh (captain), Hammad Mirza, Vinayak Shukla, Sufyan Yousuf, Ashish Odedera, Aamir Kaleem, Mohammed Nadeem, Sufyan Mehmood, Aryan Bisht, Karan Sonavale, Zikriya Islam, Hassnain Ali Shah, Faisal Shah, Muhammed Imran, Nadeem Khan, Shakeel Ahmad, and Samay Shrivastava.