India finished their Asia Cup 2025 group stage campaign on a perfect note, defeating Oman by 21 runs in Abu Dhabi to advance to the Super Four as Group A toppers. The match, though expected to be a straightforward affair, turned into a competitive contest before India’s bowling depth proved decisive in the final overs.
Batting first, India posted 188/8 in their 20 overs. The innings began aggressively with Abhishek Sharma’s quickfire 38 off 15 balls giving the team a flying start. Sanju Samson, promoted to No. 3, anchored the innings with a well-crafted 56 off 45 balls, holding the innings together as wickets fell at the other end. Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya added valuable runs late in the innings to push India beyond the 180-mark, setting Oman a challenging total on a tricky surface.
Oman, however, refused to be overawed. Their chase was led by Aamir Kaleem, who struck a fluent 64, and Hammad Mirza, who contributed 51. The duo stitched together a 93-run partnership for the second wicket, briefly threatening to pull off an upset. At 120/1 in the 14th over, Oman were well within striking distance, but India’s bowlers responded with a tight display under pressure. Hardik Pandya’s sharp catch broke the partnership, and Harshit Rana dismissed Kaleem soon after, tilting the game back in India’s favor.
Arshdeep Singh then closed out the match with precision at the death, taking the final wicket and, in the process, becoming the first Indian bowler to claim 100 wickets in T20 internationals — a significant personal milestone that added extra gloss to India’s win. Oman finished on 167/4, 21 runs short of the target despite their spirited effort.
This victory not only keeps India unbeaten in the tournament but also gives them crucial momentum heading into the Super Four stage, where they will face Pakistan in their opening match. The balance of the side, with contributions from both bat and ball, will be encouraging for the management, although they will look to tighten middle-over bowling after being put under pressure by Oman’s batting pair.
For Oman, the match ends their Asia Cup campaign, but their performance against a full-strength Indian team showcased their growth and competitiveness on the big stage. Their ability to challenge India deep into the game will be a major takeaway as they continue to build experience against top-tier opponents.
India’s focus now shifts to the highly anticipated clash against Pakistan, where their unbeaten run and all-round form will be tested under even greater scrutiny.
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