Sanju Samson’s steady half-century helped the Indian cricket team post a solid total against Oman in their final Asia Cup 2025 Group A match at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

With three wins out of three matches, India topped the group stage with six points. Pakistan was the second Group A team to qualify for the Super Four, having beaten the UAE and Oman in their matches.

Batting first after winning the toss in a dead rubber, India posted 188/8 in their 20 overs. Sanju Samson top-scored for India with 56 off 25 balls.

Oman stayed in the hunt courtesy of solid partnerships for the first two wickets but managed 167/4 in their 20 overs. Arshdeep Singh, who finished with figures of 1/37, became the first Indian man to reach the landmark of 100 wickets in T20 Internationals (T20Is).

Arshdeep achieved the feat in 64 matches and became the 25th bowler to reach the milestone.

With India already qualified for the Asia Cup Super Four stage, Jasprit Bumrah was rested for the tie.

India’s innings began with fireworks from Abhishek Sharma, who smashed 38 off just 15 balls with five fours and two sixes to propel them to 60/1 in the powerplay.

He had a reprieve on 21 when keeper Vinayak Shukla spilt a chance but fell soon after edging behind.

Sanju Samson walked in after Shubman Gill’s early dismissal in the second over and took time to settle, scoring just one from his first seven balls.

Samson grew in confidence after clearing the ropes for his 50th T20I six in the fourth over, and went on to anchor the innings.

With India, the top-ranked T20 team in the world, experimenting ahead of the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup, Suryakumar Yadav dropped himself down the order, giving others a chance in the middle.

Cameos from Tilak Varma (29 off 18) and Axar Patel (26 off 13) kept the innings ticking but Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube fell cheaply. Samson brought up his half-century in the 17th over before holing out for 56 off 45 in the next.

Harshit Rana provided a late flourish, striking an unbeaten 13 from eight deliveries, including a six off the final ball over point, to carry India to 188 for 8.

Oman’s bowling attack kept chipping away, led by Shah Faisal (2/23), Jiten Ramanandi (2/33) and Aamir Kaleem (2/31), who shared six wickets between them.

Oman’s chase of 189 began with purpose, as Jatinder Singh (32 off 33) and veteran Aamir Kaleem (64 off 46) stitched together a steady opening stand.

They scored 44 without loss in the powerplay and went on to register Oman’s first-ever 50-plus opening partnership against a full-member nation. For India, it was also the first time they had conceded such an opening stand to an associate side.

At 56 for no loss, the breakthrough came via Kuldeep Yadav in the ninth over, but the momentum shifted again when Kaleem found strong support from Hammad Mirza (51 off 33).

The duo added 93 runs off just 55 balls for the second wicket, briefly putting India under pressure. Kaleem, in particular, targeted the 18th over with two early boundaries, reducing the equation to a nervy 40 off 16.

Harshit Rana, however, struck the decisive blow in the same over, removing Kaleem to halt Oman’s surge.

In the next over, Hardik Pandya dismissed Mirza with a sharp short ball that was well held by Rinku Singh, leaving Oman with the improbable task of 34 from the final over.

Fittingly, it was Arshdeep Singh who closed out the contest. He dismissed Vinayak Shukla with a bouncer to claim his 100th T20I wicket, becoming the first Indian man to reach the landmark.

India will next play Pakistan in their first match of the Super Four Stage on Sunday.

IND vs OMA Asia Cup 2025, Group A match brief scores: India 188/8 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 56, Shah Faisal 2/23) beat Oman 167/4 in 20 overs (Aamir Kaleem 64, Hardik Pandya 1/26) by 21 runs.