Riding on a half-century from Sanju Samson, India managed to score 188/8 against Oman in their final Group A match of the Asia Cup 2025 in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Opting to bat first, India had a shaky start, losing Shubman Gill early. However, Abhishek Sharma provided some counter-attack, hitting a six and a four in the third over.

Abhishek Sharma (38) and Sanju Samson steadied the innings with a 66-run stand before Oman fought back with quick wickets, including dismissing Sharma and Hardik Pandya in the same over. Promoted up the order, Axar Patel contributed a decent 26. Despite wickets falling around him, Samson held the innings together, reaching his fifty off 41 balls. He was eventually dismissed in the 18th over for 56, which included three sixes and three fours. Tilak Varma also contributed with a quickfire 29 off 18 balls.

Oman's bowlers managed to restrict India in the final overs, conceding only 21 runs and taking 3 wickets. Shah Faisal was the pick of the bowlers for Oman, taking two wickets for 23 runs. Ameer Khaleem and Jiten Ramanandi also took two wickets each.

India's innings saw a fiery start from Abhishek Sharma, and some big hitting from Tilak Varma, complementing Samson's anchoring role. Suryakumar Yadav decided to give other players a chance to bat, coming in at the last position. The score of 60/1 in the powerplay was the highest in Abu Dhabi in the ongoing T20 Asia Cup. Sanju Samson, who was playing his first match in the Asia Cup 2025, utilized the opportunity, though his innings was not the smoothest, on a slightly slow track.

While Samson top-scored with 56 off 45 balls, his innings was described as uncharacteristic, being his slowest-ever fifty in T20Is, reaching the milestone in 41 deliveries. Despite not finding his trademark fluency, his innings was crucial in taking India to a competitive total.