India 188/8 (Samson 56, Abhishek 38, Faisal 2-23, Kaleem 2-31, Ramanandi 2-33) beat Oman 167/4 (Kaleem 64, Mirza 51) by 21 runs
India maintained their unbeaten record in the Asia Cup 2025 group stage with a 21-run win over Oman in Abu Dhabi on Friday. While Oman put up a spirited display with both bat and ball, the depth of India’s squad once again proved decisive as they marched into the Super Four with confidence intact.
Abhishek’s Powerplay Blitz
India lost Shubman Gill early to Shah Faisal’s sharp inswinger, but Abhishek Sharma wasted no time in counterattacking. The left-hander smashed 38 off just 15 balls, shouldering the bulk of India’s 60 runs in the powerplay. His sixes off Mohammad Nadeem and Jiten Ramanandi showcased his fearless intent, though his knock ended after a brisk cameo.
Samson Anchors the Innings
Sanju Samson, making his first notable contribution of the tournament, crafted a patient 56 from 45 balls. His innings was stop-start — slow at the beginning, accelerating in the middle overs, then tapering off again before holing out late in the innings. With cameos from Tilak Varma (29 off 18), Axar Patel (26 off 13), and Harshit Rana (13* off 8), India closed on 188/8, a total that looked competitive on a turning pitch.
Oman’s Resilient Response
Chasing 189, Oman showed grit despite losing early momentum. Veteran opener Aamir Kaleem, who turns 44 later this year, compiled a fighting 64, while Hammad Mirza added 51. The duo’s half-centuries kept Oman in contention, but the rising asking rate forced them into a conservative approach.
Kaleem’s dismissal to a sharp catch at long leg by Hardik Pandya ended Oman’s best chance, and though they finished with a respectable 167/4, India’s bowling variations — spread across eight different bowlers — ensured the target remained out of reach.
Milestones and Momentum
Arshdeep Singh capped the night with his 100th T20I wicket, becoming the first Indian bowler to achieve the landmark. Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy, rested for this match, applauded from the sidelines as India wrapped up another clinical win.
For Oman, this campaign ends without a win, but their competitiveness against India will give them belief ahead of hosting the T20 World Cup Asia & East-Asia-Pacific Qualifier next month.
What This Means for India
With three wins from three, India head into the Super Four unbeaten and full of momentum. Importantly, their bench strength continues to deliver, with contributions coming from different players each match. The challenge now will be to maintain this balance and sharpness as the stakes rise in the next stage.