TimesofIndia.com in Abu Dhabi: Oman turned a routine fixture right into a thriller on the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Friday, rattling India earlier than the favourites scraped by way of with a slim win. What was meant to be a heat-up for the Pakistan conflict become a nail-biter, as skipper Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir watched nervously whereas their aspect survived Oman’s spirited cost.India eked out a slim 21-run win over Oman. After opting to bat first, India posted 188 for 8 on a sluggish Abu Dhabi observe. In reply, Oman managed 167 for 4.
SKY’s baffling name
Ahead of the Pakistan match earlier within the match, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak insisted that flexibility can be the important thing to India’s center order within the Asia Cup. He made it clear that past the opening pair of Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, the remainder of the batters can be used as floaters relying on the state of affairs.
India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav on the toss (Creimas/Asian Cricket Council by way of PTI Photo)
On Friday, India turned their center order on its head. Sanju Samson was despatched in at No. 3, whereas captain Suryakumar Yadav stored sliding himself down. But the ploy spiralled into farce as Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav batted forward of him — leaving the India captain stranded at No. 11, the one participant who didn’t have to return out with the blade.India rested Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy, whereas main wicket-takers Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana obtained their likelihood.
Sanju hits breezy fifty, Axar sparkles
In India’s floating center-order, solely Sanju Samson and Axar Patel made essentially the most of their alternatives in opposition to Oman.Samson walked in at No. 3 to the loudest cheer from the packed Abu Dhabi crowd. He introduced up his slowest T20I fifty, off 41 balls, placing three sixes however by no means trying absolutely fluent.Axar Patel, in distinction, was in dismissive contact throughout his 13-ball 26. He welcomed Aamir Kaleem with a six, however the left-arm spinner had the final snicker. Trying to overhit, Axar misplaced his form, obtained a faint beneath-edge, and was sharply caught by the keeper.
India’s Sanju Samson performs a shot throughout the Asia Cup 2025 cricket match between India and Oman (Creimas/Asian Cricket Council by way of PTI Photo)
Hardik Pandya fell within the unluckiest trend — run out on the non-striker’s finish. Samson’s mistimed drive popped up, and Jiten Ramanandi’s fingertip deflection rolled onto the stumps. Hardik stretched desperately to make his floor however was simply brief.Earlier, India had misplaced Shubman Gill (5) — undone by a traditional left-arm supply. Shah Faisal’s late swing went straight by way of the gates.Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma continued his explosive kind, smashing a 15-ball 38. The southpaw teed off with a 4 and a six earlier than ending Shakeel’s over with one other boundary.Tilak Varma (29) added the ending touches with a pair of massive sixes, and Harshit Rana, who had impressed within the nets yesterday, signed off India’s innings with a six. For Oman, Shah Faisal (2/23), Jiten Ramanandi (2/33), and Aamir Kaleem (2/32) claimed two wickets every.
Oman present fight
Oman bowed out of the match with three consecutive losses however confirmed actual fight in opposition to India.India, the new favourites, handled it like a heat-up — arriving late on the venue, making adjustments within the XI, and experimenting with the batting order. Captain Suryakumar even determined to not bat. But for Oman, it was a landmark event — enjoying India for the primary time.Oman’s workforce bus arrived an hour and a half earlier than India’s. They seemed pumped throughout heat-ups. Captain Jatinder Singh embraced his counterpart Suryakumar Yadav on the toss and even introduced him with a present.Oman’s left-arm fast Shah Faisal bowled a dream supply to citadel Shubman Gill and completed with a wicket-maiden — changing into the primary bowler from an Associate aspect to bowl a maiden inside the primary six overs in opposition to India.
Oman’s Aamir Kaleem (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
With the bat, Oman have been equally spectacular.Openers Jatinder Singh (32) and Aamir Kaleem (64) placed on a gutsy 50-run stand. They turned the primary opening pair in 14 matches to maintain India wicketless within the powerplay. The final time India didn’t decide up a wicket within the powerplay was in opposition to Sri Lanka in July 2024. It was additionally the primary time Oman’s openers went wicketless in opposition to a full-member aspect within the powerplay.Veteran Aamir Kaleem, battling cramps, struck a feisty half-century. His knock ended when Hardik Pandya took a surprising operating catch, breaking the 93-run second-wicket stand. He scored 64 off 46 balls, with seven boundaries and two sixes.Hammad Mirza additionally accomplished a combating half-century. His again-to-again sixes off Kuldeep Yadav have been a delight, and he scored 51 earlier than his dismissal ended Oman’s spirited chase.