Asia Cup 2025: Oman embarrasses India, exposing flaws that seemed invisible until now.

Oman Expose India’s Vulnerabilities

If India’s intention was to come away from Friday’s encounter with most, if not all, boxes ticked, then they can’t say with any conviction that they achieved that objective. Oman embarrassed them and exposed chinks that hitherto appeared non-existent. It is true that in that endeavour, they were encouraged by the absence of two of India’s most potent wicket-taking weapons, but that should come as no consolation to the world’s top-ranking T20 side that most certainly didn’t play so at Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.

Apart from being the No. 1 outfit, India are the reigning World Cup winners; Oman occupy a modest 20th position in the ICC rankings. Jatinder Singh’s team was making its 101st appearance; Hardik Pandya alone boasted 116 T20I caps. India were coming off crushing victories over UAE and Pakistan, Oman had been well beaten by the same units. The chasm was wide beyond imagination. Oman, it was believed, would be lambs to the slaughter.

How they cocked a snook at the predictions. How they drove India ragged, with their discipline with the ball, commitment in the field, and flair and chutzpah with the bat. How they offered a telling reality check, with the Super Fours imminent and another Sunday showdown against Pakistan looming. Oman can take immense pride in keeping India’s margin of victory down to 21 runs. But what of India? How will they look back on a performance that was underwhelming, irrespective of how much they tinkered with their batting order, and irrespective of Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy resting so that Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana could get into the tournament?

Till a point, India’s decision to move their batters around so that everyone in the top eight got a hit before the business end was understandable. Sanju Samson made the most of his elevation to No. 3 with a timely half-century, even if it was a knock remarkable for the lack of fluency throughout its 45-ball duration. Axar Patel made his first hit of the tournament count, and Tilak Varma helped himself to another handy, bruising effort. Till Tilak at No. 7, the reshuffle was understandable, justified, and future-thinking. But for Suryakumar to send first Rana, then Arshdeep and eventually Kuldeep Yadav ahead of him? That was a touch bizarre. Certainly, it wasn’t intended to disrespect Oman, but pray, how much difference does it make if Rana and Arshdeep, unlikely to play again if all things remain equal, don’t get to bat?

Oman’s Resilience Exposes India’s Complacency

India’s 188 for eight was substantial, though it should have been more, and it ought to have catalysed a commanding victory. Instead, the bowlers were pushed all the way by a trio of relatively unheralded batters, one of them a 43-year-old. The lack of accuracy and control of the two young quicks was particularly disappointing, with even Arshdeep’s 100th T20I wicket—making him the first Indian to reach that milestone—failing to salvage an otherwise ordinary night.

At 62 for one at the halfway stage, India believed, with good reason, that Oman’s chase was headed nowhere. By then, skipper Jatinder Singh and the veteran Aamir Kaleem had put on 56 in 8.3 overs, making it the first time in 17 T20Is and 13 and a half months that India hadn’t tasted success in the Powerplay. After the first ten overs, of which Kuldeep had bowled two and Axar one, Suryakumar withdrew his ace spinners and pressed Tilak, Shivam Dube and Abhishek into service. That was the cue for Kaleem and the wonderfully talented Hammad Mirza to cut loose. The shift in momentum was perceptible and even though India’s total seemed a bridge too far, it was clear Oman weren’t going to go down wondering.

Suryakumar was forced to hastily revisit his plans and bring back his primary bowlers. That didn’t immediately pay off; India had mentally switched off, assuming the result was a foregone conclusion, and when Oman attacked with ferocity, it took time to regroup. Even Kuldeep, who had conceded just 25 runs in 6.1 overs before this game, wasn’t spared as Mirza hammered him for two delectable sixes. That alone was a victory for Oman and the ultimate indictment not so much of Suryakumar’s tactics as the lack of bite from Arshdeep and Rana.

It would have taken Oman a miracle to reel in 73 off the last five overs, but by rattling India, they offered slight cause for concern. If India weren’t aware before, they now know the dangers of letting things drift. Preparing for tougher tests ahead is one thing; becoming so fixated on the larger picture that you neglect the smaller one is another. Yet if this scare serves as a timely wake-up call before the Super Fours, Oman might just have done India a great service.