Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai

Dubai, Sep 20: India held their nerves to edge past Oman by 21 runs in a thrilling contest, moving into the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup 2025 unbeaten. The match, though closer than expected, showcased India’s aggressive brand of T20 cricket and team spirit.

Off the field, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav won hearts with his gesture of guiding Oman players after the match. Oman captain Jatinder Singh said, “Surya spoke about the game and praised us which means a lot. Our boys had questions on how to play in different phases of T20. It was really nice to have a chat with him.” Both teams were later seen clicking pictures together, highlighting the camaraderie and goodwill on display.

Batting first, India lost Shubman Gill early, but Abhishek Sharma’s 38 off 15 balls kept the momentum alive as Sanju Samson settled into his innings. Despite losing wickets at the other end, India posted a competitive 188/8 in their 20 overs. Interestingly, skipper Suryakumar Yadav did not get a chance to bat.

Oman’s chase got off to a strong start, with openers Jatinder Singh and Aamir Kaleem putting together 56 runs. Hammad Mirza joined Kaleem in stabilizing the innings, both scoring half-centuries. As the match reached its final overs, Hardik Pandya turned the game around, first taking a stunning catch to dismiss Kaleem (64 off 46) and then removing Mirza (51 off 33), restricting Oman to 167/4.

India now face their arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday, September 15, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to kick off the Super Fours stage. The win keeps India’s campaign on track and their fans excited for the upcoming high-octane encounters.