India defeat Oman to extend unbeaten Asia Cup run

Group A of the Asia Cup in Abu Dhabi

India 188-8 (20 overs): Samson 56 (45), Faisal 2-23

Oman 167-4 (20 overs): Kaleem 64 (46), Kuldeep 1-23

By 21 runs, India won.

In their final group match against Oman, India defeated 21 runs to extend their unbeaten streak in the 2025 Asia Cup.

For the first time in any format, the defending champions met Oman, who had already been eliminated.

With its victory, India won Group A, while Group B qualifiers Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, who finished second, joined them in the Super Fours.

Oman, along with Afghanistan, the UAE, and Hong Kong, are all eliminated from the tournament despite not winning any of their three games.

Sanju Samson, an Indian wicketkeeper, took his first bat and top-scored with a score of 56 off 45 balls, not required in his team’s previous two games.

As India posted 188 for the loss of eight wickets, he made strong partnerships with openers Abhishek Sharma (38 off 15), Axar Patel (26 off 13), and Tilak Varma (29 off 18). Faisal Shah, an Omani left-arm pacer, won 2-23.

Kuldeep Yadav bowled Jatinder Singh in reply, and that is when Oman’s innings really started to take off.

Aamir Kaleem (64 off 46) and Hammad Mirza (51 off 33), who scored his half-century off 30 balls, put on 93 (55) for the second wicket to tack on a nervy finish for India.

Oman’s flimsy hopes of a successful chase were jestened by Kaleem’s dismissal in the 18th over, which Hardik Pandya accidentally caught off Harshit Rana.

Before Arshdeep Singh recorded Vinayak Shukla as the first Indian bowler to record 100 wickets in a men’s T20I, Pandya then removed Mirza.

On Saturday, September 20, Sri Lanka will host Bangladesh, while India and Pakistan are scheduled to face off against each other on Sunday.