Monday 05 / January / 2026
MUSCAT: For Yalla Shabab, success has become a pattern. Their undefeated run in the Oman Cricket Premier Division 2025-26, capped by a win over Oman Stallions, confirmed their consistency and highlighted the sustained excellence of Chaitanya Khimji-owned teams in Oman’s domestic cricket.
For the second successive season, both teams ended as champions and runners-up respectively in the Premier Division.
Five wins from five matches underlined not just a championship season but the ongoing development of a culture of success under Chaitanya’s long-term vision.
The final act unfolded when Yalla Shabab defeated Oman Stallions in a clash that symbolised both rivalry and shared excellence.
At the close of the league, Yalla Shabab topped the six-team single round-robin table unbeaten with 10 points, while Oman Stallions finished as deserving runners-up on eight points. Muscat CT came third with six points, followed by Majees with four, IAS (Ibn Abdul Samad Eng & Cons) on two, and Renaissance CT, which failed to open their account.
For Chaitanya, whose involvement in Oman’s domestic cricket has steadily transformed teams into title contenders and talent nurseries, the success carried deeper meaning than silverware alone.
“It’s been four victorious seasons since the time I have been part of these two families. Yalla Shabab and Oman Stallions, you have always made me proud on and off the field. Thank you so much,” Chaitanya said, reflecting on a journey that has blended performance with purpose.
Yalla Shabab’s 2025-26 campaign was built on discipline, clarity of roles, and calm leadership under captain Saishiv Narayan, whose side showed remarkable composure across conditions and opponents.
Whether defending totals or chasing with assurance, Yalla Shabab played with the confidence of a team that knew how to win - and expected to.
That consistency has become a hallmark of Chaitanya-owned teams, a theme he highlighted while celebrating yet another successful season.
“Back-to-back titles are never an accident; they are the rewards for discipline, belief, and relentless teamwork. We celebrate two teams who turned consistency into a champions’ legacy in the Oman Premier 50 Overs League.”
Oman Stallions, led by Mohammed Nadeem, once again proved to be formidable contenders.
Their eight-point finish and runners-up position continued a pattern of sustained excellence, even if the final hurdle remained just out of reach this season. In many ways, the healthy competition between Yalla Shabab and Oman Stallions has raised standards across the league, pushing both teams - and their opponents - to higher levels of performance.
Individual brilliance
While team balance defined Yalla Shabab’s success, the league also showcased individual performances of the highest quality.
Zohaib Amanat emerged as Yalla Shabab’s batting cornerstone, scoring 228 runs in four innings at an average of 57.0, consistently providing stability at the top order.
Across the league, Ashish Odedra of Muscat CT finished as the leading run-scorer with 251 runs at an average of 62.75, while Oman Stallions’ Ameer Zeeshan was breathtakingly efficient, amassing 216 runs at an astonishing average of 108.0, highlighting the depth of batting talent in the competition.
On the bowling front, Oman Stallions’ Hassnain Ali Shah led the charts with 15 wickets in five innings, regularly turning matches with pace and precision. Jay Odedra of Yalla Shabab, with 10 wickets, provided crucial breakthroughs, while Renaissance’s pacer Sufyan Mehmood finished second-best with 13 wickets from five innings.
A growing legacy
The 2025-26 title was not an isolated achievement but part of a growing legacy. Since 2021, Chaitanya’s teams - under various banners including Ruwi Rangers, Amerat Royals, Yalla Shabab Giants, and Royal Oman Stallions - have consistently featured in finals across formats.
Championships in D10, D20, and D50 competitions, alongside multiple runners-up finishes, reflect a structure built for sustainability rather than short-term success.
From Ruwi Rangers’ double D10 and D20 titles in 2021-22, to Oman Stallions’ Premier League triumph in 2023-24, and Yalla Shabab’s dominant 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons, the pattern is unmistakable: these teams do not merely compete - they fight for glory season after season.
That continuity has also had a wider impact on Oman cricket, nurturing players capable of stepping up to higher levels and strengthening the domestic ecosystem.
The teams have now sent seven members into the recently-announced national squad of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, to be jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and India in February-March.
“Champions are remembered, but back-to-back champions make history,” said Chaitanya. “Congratulations to both teams on an extraordinary achievement in the Oman Premier 50 Overs League.”
