India beat Oman by 21 runs in Asia Cup clash
India defeated Oman by 21 runs in their Asia Cup clash. Oman fell short in their chase of 189, finishing with 167 runs in 20 overs while losing only four wickets.
Captain Jatinder Singh and Kaleem provided a steady start, putting on 56 runs for the opening stand. However, Kuldeep Yadav gave India the breakthrough in the ninth over, bowling Singh for 32 off 33 balls.
Kaleem then combined with Mirza to resist India’s bowling attack, adding 93 runs for the second wicket.
Their stand kept Oman in contention until Harshit Rana dismissed Kaleem in the 18th over, with Hardik Pandya taking a catch at deep fine leg. Kaleem top-scored with 64 from 46 balls, hitting seven boundaries and two sixes.
Mirza’s fighting knock ended in the following over when he gave a simple catch to substitute fielder Rinku Singh off Pandya’s bowling.
He had struck 51 off 33 deliveries, including five fours and two sixes.
With his departure, Oman’s hopes faded as they required 35 from the last seven balls.
They managed only 13 runs in that period, ending the innings with a spirited but unsuccessful chase.
India set 189-run target for Oman
India has set Oman a target of 189 runs in the 12th match of the Asia Cup 2025 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
After winning the toss, India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav opted to bat first, and his side posted 188 for eight in their 20 overs. The decision proved effective despite a shaky start to the innings.
Vice-captain Shubman Gill fell early, bowled by Shah Faisal for five in the second over with only six runs on the board. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson then steadied the innings, adding 66 runs for the second wicket.
Sharma played a quickfire knock of 38 from just 15 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes, before falling in the eighth over.
India suffered another setback in the same over when Hardik Pandya was run out for one, leaving the team under pressure.
Samson, promoted up the order, continued to anchor the innings and built a 45-run stand with Axar Patel, who struck 26 from 13 balls before being dismissed by Aamir Kaleem. Kaleem also removed Shivam Dube cheaply, reducing India to 130 for five in the 14th over.
Samson kept the scoreboard moving with Tilak Varma, putting on 41 runs for the sixth wicket. Samson top-scored with a well-made 56 off 45 deliveries, featuring three sixes and three boundaries.
Varma chipped in with 29 from 18 balls, including two sixes and a four. Both batters fell in quick succession towards the end of the innings.
Lower-order batter Harshit Rana added a useful unbeaten 13 off eight balls in the final over, taking India’s total to 188.
For Oman, Shah Faisal and Aamir Kaleem impressed with the ball, each claiming two wickets. India’s total now leaves Oman needing 189 to win.
India win toss
India won the toss and chose to bat first against Oman.
Asia Cup match kicks off at 7:30 PM Pakistan time
India will take on Oman in the Asia Cup at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, with the match scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM Pakistan Standard Time.
Oman squad
Jatinder Singh (c), Hammad Mirza, Vinayak Shukla, Sufyan Yousuf, Ashish Odedera, Aamir Kaleem, Mohammed Nadeem, Sufyan Mehmood, Aryan Bisht, Karan Sonavale, Zikriya Islam, Hassnain Ali Shah, Faisal Shah, Muhammed Imran, Nadeem Khan, Shakeel Ahmad, Samay Shrivastava.
India squad
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.
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