India Vs Oman, Asia Cup Highlights: Arshdeep Joins T20I 100-Wicket Club As IND Edge Past OMA By 21 Runs

Hello and welcome back to another live blog! It’s India vs Oman, and we’ll bring you all the action and updates from the clash on Friday, 19 September, at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Stay tuned!

The India vs Oman, Asia Cup 2025 Match 12 will be available to watch live on the SonyLIV app and website in India, while television coverage will be on Sony Sports 1 and Sony Sports 5. Fans preferring Hindi commentary can tune in to Sony Sports 3, while Sony Sports 4 will carry the match with Tamil and Telugu commentary.

India and Oman have never played each other in a T20 International. However, the two faced off in an Emerging Asia Cup clash last year, where an India A side, led by Tilak Varma, comfortably defeated Oman by six wickets after restricting them to 140 for five.

Historically, Oman’s only victories against full-member nations both came against Ireland in 2016 and 2019, underlining the size of the challenge that awaits them in Abu Dhabi.

IND vs OMA Key Stats

Abhishek Sharma Vs Aamir Kaleem

Abhishek Sharma has been in blistering form, scoring 430 runs in his last 10 games at a strike rate of 210.78. He’s known for taking down bowlers in the powerplay. Oman will turn to left-arm spinner Aamir Kaleem, their most experienced bowler with nine wickets in his past 10 matches. If Kaleem can dismiss Abhishek early, he could give Oman a fighting chance. Otherwise, the young opener is capable of running away with the contest.

IND vs OMA Key Battles

Abu Dhabi weather is set to be hot and partly sunny through the evening. Daytime temperatures will hover around 40°C, though conditions are expected to feel less humid compared to earlier in the week. By night, temperatures will dip to around 28°C with clearer skies, though a layer of humidity may still test the players. There is no threat of rain disrupting proceedings.

India have won the toss and have opted to bat first against Oman.

India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Sanju Samson(w), Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav

Oman (Playing XI): Aamir Kaleem, Jatinder Singh(c), Hammad Mirza, Vinayak Shukla(w), Shah Faisal, Zikria Islam, Aryan Bisht, Mohammad Nadeem, Shakeel Ahmed, Samay Shrivastava, Jiten Ramanandi

Waqar Younis and Ravi Shastri call it a beauty again in Abu Dhabi, a pitch with a light sprinkle of grass but bone-dry underneath. Not much spin on offer, but powerplay batsmen can go after it. Limited-overs action should be high-scoring on this classic UAE surface.

The players are out on the field, soaking in the roar of the crowd. Oman's players go first, their anthem filling the Abu Dhabi air, and now India's players take over, a spine-tingling moment as the home side stands tall, ready for battle.

And we’re off! The Men in Blue are marking their 250th T20I, only the second team to reach this milestone after Pakistan. Opening the innings for India are besties Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma, stepping out under the Abu Dhabi lights for the first time in this tournament.

Oman’s players are ready with Shakeel Ahmed leading the bowling attack, setting the stage for an exciting clash.

Shakeel comes steaming in and Abhishek swings, nothing comes off this one as the ball is speared full and straight at the pads. Massive LBW appeal, but the umpire shakes his head. Oman’s players look furious and go upstairs, thinking it’s in line, but replays show the ball just clips outside leg. Review gone up in smoke, and Abhishek survives to keep the scoreboard ticking.

Shakeel Ahmed pitches full and just outside off, and Gill wastes no time, he drives it crisply in front of square, past the long-off fielder. That’s four, and Gill is off and running.

IND 6/0 (1.2)

Faisal strikes early! Gill is gone, his off stump cartwheeling out of the ground. A beauty from Faisal, starts full outside off, swings back in, and Gill’s mighty off-drive leaves a gap between bat and pad. The ball sneaks through, and just like that, Oman has India reeling. Dream start for the Men in Green.

IND 6/1 (2)

Sanju Samson walks in to steady the ship after Gill’s early exit, but Faisal isn’t letting up. Pitched up outside off and swinging back in, Samson goes after it through cover, and gets beaten inside-out! No run, and Faisal is hunting for his second scalp.

Abhishek Sharma steps up to take revenge for Shubman’s early wicket. Shakeel Ahmed bowls a short one, and Abhishek mistimes the pull, but it dribbles past the fielder and races to the boundary for four.

Now it’s Samson taking control, refusing to let Oman bowlers settle. Shah Faisal drifts onto middle and leg, and Samson swings big, that’s a massive six over the rope. Oman’s wayward line and length are already being punished.

Abhishek Sharma and his strike rate, both are giving Oman headaches right now. Mohammad Nadeem starts with a wild one down leg, three wides straightaway. Next ball, Abhishek goes after the shorter length, charging down and cutting it over backward point for a safe couple.

And then comes the miscue, flings his bat at one angled across, bottom hand flying off the handle, but even that goes for four as it slices over point and dribbles into the rope. Oman just can’t catch a break against him.

Mohammad Nadeem bowls, and Abhishek Sharma responds in style! With the leg-side field up and no one in the deep, he comes down the track and elegantly flicks it off the pads over square leg for four. Pure class from Abhishek.

Samay Shrivastava comes into the attack, and Samson wastes no time. First ball, he sends it flying over the rope, SIX. Next, a fraction short outside off, and Samson tucks it square for a quick two, the sweeper doing his best to stop it. Oman’s leg spinner just got off to a tough start.

Finally, Oman strikes. After a punishing partnership, they pull one back and break through, a much-needed wicket to stop the flow of runs.

IND 72/2 (7.1)

Hardik Pandya walks in… and just like that, he’s walking back. A simple but unlucky run-out, backing up at the non-striker’s end, he’s caught out when Samson’s drive off Jiten Ramanandi deflects just enough. Gone for 1 off 1, and Oman celebrate a slice of luck.

IND 75/3 (7.5)

Axar Patel walks in to steady the ship, and he gets off the mark in style. Samay Shrivastava tosses one up, spins it in, but Axar reads the googly perfectly. He lofts it straight, beats the diving long-on fielder, and that’s four, India moving along again.

Samson is loving it against Zikria Islam. First, a short one sliding across, and he smashes it straight down the ground, SIX. And then, a wild one outside off, three wides as Samson lets it go, with Vinayak Shukla fumbling it slightly. Extras piling up, and India’s momentum continues.

Time for drinks! Oman are hanging tough, and that two-wicket over from Ramanandi really swung things their way, first Abhishek, then a sharp run-out of Hardik. India are mixing up their batting order, making sure everyone gets a slice of time at the crease. Samson has had a scratchy start but is set, now it’s about turning that start into a big one.

Axar Patel is finding his rhythm! First, he drives one crisply between extra cover and long-off for four. Shakeel Ahmed strays wide next, gifting a run, and then Axar steps on the accelerator again, full on off stump, he gets under it and lofts it straight over the bowler’s head for another boundary. India’s scoring rate is climbing fast.

And just like that, another wicket falls! Axar Patel’s head drops in disappointment as Vinayak Shukla takes a sharp catch behind the stumps. A short, wide delivery that looked hittable, but Axar perhaps went for too much and misjudged it, a faint under-edge and Shukla doesn’t miss.

Axar departs for 26 off 13, a lively cameo that gave India some momentum.

Samson keeps the scoreboard ticking! Aamir Kaleem bowls a good-length one wide outside off, and Samson goes for the cut, edges it nicely, and it dribbles away to the third-man boundary for four. Next up, Shivam Dube is off the mark, punching a length ball outside off towards sweeper cover for a single.

Shivam Dube is keeping things ticking for India. First, Zikria Islam floats one to deep mid-wicket, and Dube nudges it for a single. Next, a spinning delivery outside off, and he just dabs it toward backward point, no run this time.

Zikria Islam keeps it spinning, and Shivam Dube tries to cut a slower, spinning delivery on a good length, it trickles into the ground toward backward point, no run. Next ball, Samson gets in on the action, pulling a flat delivery from round the wicket onto off toward long-on for a single.

And India lose another! Shivam Dube falls to Aamir Kaleem, miscuing once again. A length ball outside off tempts him, and he tries to clear the infield but slices it meekly. Jatinder, perfectly positioned just inside long-off, takes it cleanly. That’s two wickets for Kaleem, and Oman are buzzing while India feel the pressure.

Tilak Varma comes to the crease.

IND 130/5 (13.2)

Zikria Islam drifts one past Samson for a bye, giving India a single. Next up, Tilak Varma is on strike, a delivery just outside off, and he attempts a cheeky switch hit. An inside edge sneaks past for a quick single to short third.

Aamir Kaleem strays full and Varma makes him pay, huge SIX over long-on! Back on strike, Samson keeps things moving, nudging a ball to extra cover for a single. India are finding their rhythm again.

Finally, a boundary for India after 22 balls. Aamir Kaleem fires one wide outside off, ending up as a low full toss, and Tilak Varma makes him pay. A clever switch hit guides it behind square for four, momentum slowly creeping back.

Tilak Varma absolutely punishes Jiten Ramanandi, what looked like a missed yorker turns into a perfect gift, landing just outside off. Tilak goes through the line and smashes it clean over the bowler’s head for SIX.

Samson reaches his fifty in style! First, a pitched-up delivery wide outside off is driven neatly behind square for four. Then, a slow, dipping yorker outside off, Samson digs in, slices it cleverly toward short third for another boundary. The half-century comes with muted celebrations, and Samson looks understandably spent after a brisk knock.

Big blow for India! Samson’s brilliant knock of 56 off 45, with three fours and three sixes, comes to an end. Shah Faisal tempts him, and Aryan Bisht takes a sharp catch at deep mid-wicket, Oman strikes again, breaking the partnership.

Harshit Rana comes to the crease.

And India lose another! Tilak Varma skied one high into the air after a back-of-a-length delivery outside off. Misjudging the swing, he toe-ends it badly, and Zikria Islam, positioned in extra cover, times his jump perfectly to take a brilliant catch. Varma is gone, and Oman are really putting the brakes on India now.

IND 176/7 (18.3)

And another wicket off a ricochet! Arshdeep Singh is run out in dramatic fashion. A full, straight delivery drilled down the ground comes back off Jiten Ramanandi and crashes into the stumps while Arshdeep is short of his ground. India have now lost two batsmen this way, first Hardik, and now Arshdeep, gone for 1 off 1! Harshit Rana is still at the crease, watching the chaos unfold.

Shah Faisal is trying to keep things tight, but Harshit Rana finds a way, a low full toss at the stumps, stabbed just to the left of the bowler toward long-off, and the pair scamper for two. Next up, Kuldeep Yadav gets off the mark, taking a full ball outside off, shuffling down the track, and tucking it toward deep backward square leg for a single.

India post 188/8 in 20 overs in a topsy-turvy innings, marked as much by bold decisions as by their batting. Suryakumar Yadav’s move down the order looked promising, but with Rana, Arshdeep, and Kuldeep walking in ahead of him, Suryakumar Yadav never got a chance to make an impact. In his absence, Samson held the innings together, steady if not spectacular, while Abhishek Sharma set the tone with a blistering start.

Cameos from Axar Patel and Tilak Varma kept the scoreboard ticking, helping India reach a competitive total despite the unusual batting order shuffle.

India tried something different today. Interestingly, skipper Suryakumar Yadav kept himself at number 11 and never got a chance to bat. Oman capitalized on it, with Shah Faisal and Jiten Ramanandi picking up a couple of wickets each, while Aamir Kaleem impressed with his spell. The stage is now set for an exciting chase.

We’re back for the chase! Jatinder Singh and Aamir Kaleem take the crease, with Jatinder on strike. Hardik Pandya leads the bowling attack as Oman aim to make a strong start.

The first over ends wicketless as Arshdeep Singh comes into the attack. Left-arm fast-medium, he starts with a dot to Jatinder Singh, no run off the first delivery, and Oman settle in at the crease.

India continue searching for that early breakthrough, but Oman hold firm. Harshit Rana strays in line and pays the price, short and down leg, and Aamir Kaleem swivels neatly to send it racing away to fine leg for four.

Arshdeep bangs it in short, but it climbs way too high. Jatinder goes for the pull, makes no contact, and the umpire stretches his arms, wide for height.

India searching for that early strike, but Oman are holding firm. In fact, the last time India went wicketless inside the first six overs was way back in July 2024 against Sri Lanka, when they had reached 36 without loss, that’s 14 games ago! Kaleem almost falls to Kuldeep’s wrong ’un here, beaten all ends up, but Samson can’t gather cleanly and they sneak a bye.

Drama in Abu Dhabi! Jatinder Singh is given out caught behind and wastes no time in sending it upstairs. Samson was certain he’d heard a nick, the umpire’s finger went up instantly, but Jatinder looked confident as well. The review will tell the full story.

For now, he survives as Axar follows up with one on off-stump, which Jatinder dead-bats into the off side.

Jatinder stays! The review works in his favour as there was no edge detected, much to Oman’s relief. Samson was convinced, the umpire was quick with the finger, but technology clears Jatinder. He remains at the crease, and Oman breathe easy for now.

India lost a review earlier in the over, but Kuldeep Yadav made amends almost immediately by striking to remove Jatinder Singh. Trying to pull a skiddy delivery, Jatinder was cramped for room and ended up chopping it onto his stumps. That ends Oman’s opening stand, and India finally have their breakthrough.

Hammad Mirza comes to the crease.

OMAN 57/1 (8.4)

Shivam Dube into the attack now, mixing it up with some fuller deliveries. Aamir Kaleem keeps the scoreboard ticking, a streaky edge races down to third man for two before he flicks one neatly to long-on for a single. Oman inching along steadily.

That 56-run partnership is a significant one for Oman, it’s the second-highest stand India have ever conceded against an Associate side in T20Is, only behind the 68-run 4th wicket stand Afghanistan put up against them in the 2010 T20 World Cup.

Hardik Pandya comes into the attack, and Oman keep nudging runs along. First, Hammad Mirza gets two down to third man, followed by Aamir Kaleem taking a single off a fuller delivery outside off, driven neatly to mid-off. The scoreboard ticks steadily.

Hardik Pandya fires one in short onto the stumps, and Aamir Kaleem goes for a big pull, gets a top edge, but it flies just over the keeper’s head for four! Oman continue to find boundaries despite the pressure.

Shivam Dube returns to the attack, and Hammad Mirza survives a lifeline! A back-of-a-length delivery angling into leg stump tempts Mirza to play through the off side, but he only manages to get some height. Axar Patel dives at extra cover to take what should have been a simple catch, but he can’t hold on despite multiple attempts.

In the process, Axar hits the turf hard with his head and looks to be in some discomfort, a worrying moment for India. Mirza sneaks three runs off the delivery.

Shivam Dube bowls a good-length delivery angling across, and Aamir Kaleem nudges it toward point for a quick single, the non-striker even dives to make it home. That’s 50 for Kaleem! He takes off his helmet, raises his bat, and basks in the applause, even bowing to the crowd in celebration. A well-deserved and much-needed milestone for Oman.

Arshdeep Singh serves up a full toss outside off, just below the waist, and Hammad Mirza makes him pay. He slashes hard, gets a thick outside edge, and it races away to the third-man boundary, four more for Oman.

Aamir Kaleem’s innings ends in spectacular fashion at the boundary! He mistimes a slower delivery on a good length, aiming to send it over the rope, but Hardik Pandya is perfectly positioned at fine leg.

Showing incredible balance and awareness, he stretches both hands, clings on to the catch, and runs along the rope without touching the cushion. A stunning piece of fielding gives India a crucial breakthrough.

A special shoutout to Aamir Kaleem, a brilliant innings today, setting records and keeping Oman in the hunt with some masterful batting.

Hardik Pandya serves a full delivery outside off, and Hammad Mirza crushes it to the right of mid-off for four. That’s 50 for Mirza, reached in just 30 balls a ,blazing half-century for Oman.

OMA 153/2 (18.2)

And just like that, another big wicket falls. Hammad Mirza, who blasted a quick 51 off 33 balls with five fours and two sixes, is caught by substitute Rinku Singh at mid-off. A short-of-length delivery from Hardik Pandya sees Mirza early on the pull, and he toe-ends it up into the air. Rinku moves smartly to his right and takes the catch, ending Mirza’s impressive innings.

Milestone moment for India. Arshdeep Singh becomes the first Indian bowler to reach 100 wickets in T20Is. He strikes immediately, bowling a short delivery onto off stump, and Vinayak Shukla goes for a big pull but mistimes it, ballooning it to substitute Rinku Singh at deep mid-wicket. Vinayak departs for 1 off 2, and Arshdeep celebrates a historic landmark.

Oman delivered a spirited performance against the reigning world champions, matching India ball for ball from the start. Thanks to handy contributions from Aamir Kaleem and Hammad Mirza, they kept the chase alive, but India’s total proved just beyond reach. In the end, Oman fell short by 21 runs but earned plenty of respect with their fearless and competitive display.

That’s a wrap from Abu Dhabi! India now gear up to face Pakistan in the Super 4 clash on Sunday, 21 September. Oman showed tremendous grit and skill today, the only thing that held them back was time and the limited overs. We’ll be back with more live action soon. Until then, bye for now.