Match summary — India 188/8 (20 overs) def. Oman 167/20 (20 overs)
ABU DHABI — India maintained a perfect start to their Asia Cup 2025 campaign, defending a competitive 188 to down Oman by 21 runs at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Friday. The win completed India’s group fixtures and kept the Men in Blue unbeaten as they move forward into the Super Four stage.
India captain Suryakumar Yadav’s call to bat first yielded dividends as the hosts posted 188 for 8 in their 20 overs. After an early setback when vice-captain Shubman Gill was dismissed cheaply, wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson anchored the innings with a top score of 56 off 45 balls. Samson put on a quick 66-run stand with Abhishek Sharma, who struck a brisk 38 from 15 deliveries before falling in the eighth over.
Tilak Varma’s quickfire 29 from 18 balls and a late cameo from Harshit Rana, an unbeaten 13 off eight balls, helped India recover from a mid-innings wobble that saw them slip to 130 for 5 in the 13th over. For Oman, bowlers Jiten Ramanandi, Faisal and Kaleem each made important contributions, with the trio sharing six of India’s wickets.
Chasing 189, Oman produced a resilient response but fell short at 167 in their 20 overs. The visitors got off to a promising start as skipper Jatinder Singh and Kaleem built a 56-run opening partnership. Kuldeep Yadav then removed Singh in the ninth over to break the opening stand.
Kaleem produced a standout performance for Oman — finishing as the top scorer with 64 off 46 balls, including seven fours and two sixes. He combined with Mirza to add a substantial 93 runs for the second wicket, keeping Oman firmly in contention through much of the chase. Mirza contributed a lively 51 off 33 deliveries before holing out to the boundary off Hardik Pandya.
India’s bowling attack chipped in at the death. Harshit Rana claimed the crucial wicket of Kaleem in the 18th over, with Hardik Pandya taking the catch at deep fine leg. Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh finished with one wicket apiece for India, while Oman’s bowlers — Faisal, Kaleem and Ramanandi — had earlier picked up two wickets each in India’s innings.
When Mirza departed, Oman suddenly required 35 runs from seven balls. They managed 13 and could not quite chase down the target despite spirited hitting in the middle overs. The 21-run margin underscored India’s ability to withstand late pressure and close out a competitive T20 contest.
What it means
India’s victory confirms their smooth passage to the Super Four stage and preserves their unbeaten run in the group. With momentum on their side, India will now prepare for a high-profile clash with archrivals Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday. Oman, despite the defeat, showed encouraging batting depth that will be vital in future fixtures.
