Oman seek spirited farewell in Asia Cup debut

MUSCAT – Oman will look to bow out of their maiden ACC Asia Cup campaign with pride when they face world champions India in their concluding Group A fixture at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday. The match begins at 6.30pm (Oman time).

For Duleep Mendis’ Men in Red, the Asia Cup has been a tough initiation into elite-level cricket. Back-to-back defeats against Pakistan and the UAE have ended Oman’s hopes of progression, but skipper Jatinder Singh and his team remain determined to produce a performance that reflects their true ability on the big stage.

India, already through to the Super 4s alongside Pakistan, are expected to rotate their squad, giving fringe players valuable time in the middle. That, however, doesn’t make the task any easier for Oman, who will be facing the full force of India’s world-class depth for the first time in an official international game. The only previous meeting between the two sides was during the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup held in Muscat.

Oman’s batting has been their Achilles heel so far, with totals of 67 and 130 in unsuccessful chases. None of their batters have crossed 30, with Hammad Mirza (27 vs Pakistan) and Aryan Bisht (24 vs UAE) showing glimpses of resistance. Against India’s formidable spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy, along with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, Oman will need resilience and composure at the crease.

Despite the setbacks, the mood in the Oman camp remains positive. Aryan Bisht, who top-scored against the UAE, underlined the team’s intent: “The team is looking forward to a better show against India. The Asia Cup has been a big learning experience, and we would like to take the lessons forward into next month’s T20 Asia and East Asia-Pacific Regional Qualifiers in Muscat, where three of the nine teams will secure a berth at the 2026 edition.”

With nothing to lose, Oman are expected to play with freedom against the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian side. A fighting display would not only lift spirits but also serve as an encouraging sign as they prepare for the crucial qualifiers on home soil.

The Sheikh Zayed Stadium wicket, which will host India for the first and only time in this tournament, remains an unknown factor and could play a role in how the contest unfolds.