India narrowly avoided a major upset against Oman in the Asia Cup 2025, securing a 21-run victory after a shaky performance. Despite being the reigning T20 World Champions and having already qualified for the Super Four stage, India found themselves in a tight contest against the spirited Omani side.

India won the toss and elected to bat first, posting a total of 188/8 in their 20 overs. Sanju Samson led the scoring with a well-constructed 56, while Abhishek Sharma contributed a quickfire 38 off just 15 balls. Axar Patel (26 off 13) and Tilak Varma (29 off 18) also chipped in with valuable runs. However, the innings was marred by a bizarre run-out of Hardik Pandya, who was dismissed for just 1 off 1 ball after a deflection off Jiten Ramanandi's hand sent the ball crashing into the stumps. Shubman Gill also struggled, scoring only 5 runs.

Oman's bowlers, particularly Shah Faisal and Jiten Ramanandi, troubled the Indian batsmen, taking two wickets each. Aamir Kaleem also contributed with two wickets, further stifling India's momentum.

In response, Oman started strongly, with their openers putting on a 56-run partnership. Aamir Kaleem (64) and Hammad Mirza (51) then forged a 93-run stand for the second wicket, threatening to pull off an improbable chase. The left-right batting pair kept Oman in the game with some late boundaries, putting pressure on the Indian bowlers.

Just when it seemed Oman might cause a major shock, Hardik Pandya stepped up with a crucial intervention. He took a stunning catch on the boundary to dismiss Aamir Kaleem off Harshit Rana's bowling and then bowled Hammad Mirza in the next over. These two wickets shifted the momentum back in India's favor.

Arshdeep Singh also played a vital role, claiming his 100th T20I wicket by dismissing Vinayak Shukla. He became the first Indian bowler to reach this milestone in T20Is. Despite missing key bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy, the Indian bowling attack managed to keep Oman under control, restricting them to 167/4.

Ultimately, India held their nerve to secure a 21-run victory. However, the match served as a wake-up call, highlighting the need to avoid complacency and maintain focus against all opponents. The team's casual approach nearly resulted in a disastrous defeat, underscoring the importance of executing strategies effectively.

India will face Pakistan in the Super Four stage, and they will need to address their shortcomings from the Oman game to ensure a more convincing performance.