🏏T20 Asia Cup 2025: India vs Oman, 12th Match, Group A at Abu Dhabi🏏 - Page 2

Did you know?

Post the last T20 World Cup, only Australia scored with a better run per over than India.

Since July 2024, only Afghanistan's spinners have conceded runs at a lower economy rate than India.

Who said what:

"If I play in any team, I will play as a bowler. My job is to take wickets. If I don't take wickets, there will be no space" - Kuldeep Yadav

Quotes

"I feel these wickets are perfect for spinners. Because you get bounce and the zip. If you compare to the Champions Trophy, the wickets [then] were very slow and you had to put a lot of revs on the ball to get the extra bounce and the pace as well. Those tracks, it was difficult for a batter to score runs. For wristspinners, to get bounce and turn on those wickets was tough."

Kuldeep Yadav says the Asia Cup pitches have helped him more than the ones India played on in Dubai during the Champions Trophy earlier this year

Big picture

As expected, the group stage of this Asia Cup ends with a high-stakes clash in Group B, and a dead rubber in Group A. Indiaand Oman contest this dead rubber, and their aims are wildly different.

For India, this could be about getting some of their bowlers match time, and some of their middle- and lower-order batters crease time, ahead of the Super Four stage. Four members of their squad are yet to play a match, and three members of their top eight have played both their matches so far but are yet to face a ball.

Preview

For Oman, this is their last match against a Full Member team before they host a tournament of serious consequence next month - the T20 World Cup Asia & East-Asia-Pacific Regional Qualifier. They are one of nine teams taking part in that tournament, of whom three will make it to next year's T20 World Cup. Oman will want to be one of those three teams, and learnings from this Asia Cup, and this final game against India, could well help them in that quest.

Preview

At India's optional training session on match eve, nine players turned up and one visual stood out: Gautam Gambhir, stationed behind the nets, closely instructing Harshit Rana during an extended batting stint. In the adjacent net, Arshdeep Singh went about his drills with noticeably less guidance from the head coach and had a much shorter hit. Make of that what you will.

With India already qualified and Oman out of contention, and with the game set in Abu Dhabi, a fair distance from India's base in Dubai, Jasprit Bumrah could well be rested, especially with another Pakistan clash looming in a day's time. That could open the door for either Harshit Rana or Arshdeep Singh, who is sitting on 99 T20I wickets, to get a look-in.

Otherwise, India kept things light before taking on opponents they've never faced in international cricket. Kuldeep Yadav, speaking to the media, insisted little changes for India regardless of opposition. "There are no small teams in T20 cricket, that's the first thing. It's a fast game and it is very important to adapt to conditions. But this team is experienced enough to tackle everything. There are a lot of experienced players. It is very important to maintain that. We will try to maintain the intensity in the match. It doesn't matter who the opponent is."

Big picture

For Oman, this is a landmark occasion. It will be their first ever meeting with India in any format, and it will likely come in front of a packed Abu Dhabi crowd. It will be an experience for the history books, even if the stakes aren't high. Having already endured two heavy defeats, getting off the mark against India is a tall ask from Oman, so perhaps it's a chance to play a bit more freely and see how far they can push the reigning world champions.

Arshdeep does hold a narrow lead, but he has Hardik Pandya with 95 scalps and Bumrah with 92 right on his back. Both the right-arm seamers can also sniff that three-digit mark, and a bit of friendly competition within the pace-bowling corps will spur each of them on to be at their best.

Shubman Gill needs to find his feet as opener

India vs Oman Live Score, Asia Cup 2025, IND vs OMA: Shubman Gill will certainly have a long leash, seeing as he is India's long term plan to lead across formats. He is not at risk of losing his spot at the top of the order, but he needs to find the opening chemistry alongside his close friend Abhishek Sharma. After a couple of strong IPL seasons, we know he has quality there – but can it translate internationally?

Chance for Arshdeep to stake a claim – and for his 100th T20I wicket

India vs Oman Live Score, Asia Cup 2025, IND vs OMA: Arshdeep already sits as India's leading wicket-taker in the format, but has a chance to become the first to reach triple digits in this format of the game. He has been asked to ride the bench with only one seamer being used, but the odds being that he gets a run out today, it will be a golden opportunity for him to achieve this impressive milestone.

Extra pacer on the cards or a rest for Bumrah?

India vs Oman Live Score, Asia Cup 2025, IND vs OMA: Jasprit Bumrah's workload remains a question over this tournament. With Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana on the bench, this could be a chance to give India's star seamer a brief break before the business end of this tournament.