Sanju Samson’s battling half-century and a historic landmark for Arshdeep Singh powered India to a 21-run victory over Oman in the Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Thursday night, extending their unbeaten run in the tournament.
Samson anchored India’s innings with 56 off 45 balls, while Arshdeep became the first Indian men’s cricketer to claim 100 wickets in T20 internationals, reaching the milestone in the final over that also sealed the win.
India posted 188-8, their third-highest total against an Associate side in T20Is, after being given an early scare. Vice-captain Shubman Gill fell for 5 in the second over to Faisal Shah, but Abhishek Sharma restored momentum with a rapid 38 from 15 deliveries before Jiten Ramanandi struck.
A surprise promotion for Hardik Pandya ended in disappointment when he was run out for 1 after a deflection off Ramanandi’s fingertips.
Samson found support from Axar Patel, who counterattacked with 26 off 13, the pair adding 45 from 23 balls. Tilak Varma, unusually batting at seven, contributed a brisk 29 off 18 as India pushed towards a competitive total. Samson, battling the heat, completed his fifty off 41 balls, the third slowest for India in Asia Cup T20 history, before falling for 56. Harshit Rana added a final flourish with a towering six, lifting India to 188.
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Oman responded with fight, reaching 56 in the Powerplay as captain Jatinder Singh and Aamir Kaleem built a 44-run stand. Kuldeep Yadav broke the partnership in the ninth over, but Kaleem carried on, adding 93 with Hammad Mirza.
Kaleem brought up his fifty in 38 balls before falling for 64 in the 18th over, while Mirza hit a counterattacking 51 off 30 before Pandya dismissed him in the penultimate over. Despite Jiten Ramanandi’s late boundaries, Oman closed on 167-4, 21 runs short.
India’s bowlers were tested on a flat pitch. Hardik Pandya finished with 1-26, Kuldeep Yadav claimed 1-23, and Harshit Rana impressed with 1-25. Arshdeep, entrusted with the final over, held his nerve and collected his 100th T20I wicket, surpassing all previous Indian bowlers.
Oman’s spin trio kept India in check, with Faisal Shah (2-23), Ramanandi (2-33) and Kaleem (2-31) sharing six wickets, but their efforts were not enough to deny India another win on a record-making night.
Brief scores:
India 188-8 in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 56, Abhishek Sharma 38; Aamir Kaleem 2-31, Jiten Ramanandi 2-33)
Oman 167-4 in 20 overs (Aamir Kaleem 64, Hammad Mirza 51; Hardik Pandya 1-26, Kuldeep Yadav 1-23)
India won by 21 runs.
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