Oman captain Jatinder Singh is buzzing with excitement as his team gears up for their first-ever Asia Cup appearance. This historic debut gives Oman a golden chance to go head-to-head with cricket powerhouses like India and Pakistan. They earned their spot in the eight-team tournament by shining in the ACC Men’s Premier Cup last April, joining Hong Kong and the UAE.
Oman’s squad has been putting in the hard yards with training camps in Abu Dhabi and two practice wins against Hong Kong. “It’s a huge moment for us to step onto the field for the Asia Cup,” Jatinder shared during a virtual chat organized by Sportcell. “We’re thrilled to test our skills against Asia’s cricket giants and see where we stand in the global game. Playing in this tournament is an honor—it’s what we dreamed of when we started our cricket journeys.”
In Group A, Oman faces a tough road ahead. They kick off against Pakistan in Dubai on September 12, followed by UAE on September 15 and India on September 19 in Abu Dhabi. Right-arm pacer Sufyan Mehmood is confident they can make things interesting. “Every second of these matches will be historic for Oman cricket,” he said. “We’ve got nothing to lose, so we’ll play fearlessly and showcase our talent. I hope we give India and Pakistan a real fight—it’s not going to be an easy win for them. If we stick to good cricket, we could even pull off an upset and make a big impact.”
Jatinder and Sufyan have watched Oman grow from underdogs to a team that’s already featured in T20 World Cups. With several Indian-origin players in the squad, the clash against Suryakumar Yadav’s India side feels extra special. Jatinder recently bumped into Indian stars like Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Arshdeep Singh, and Shubman Gill during practice. “I’m excited to chat with Abhishek and Tilak bhai—they’re top-order batters with a different style from middle-order players like me,” he added. “I want to learn about their mindset, preparation, and how they execute plans.”
A big boost for Oman’s Asia Cup prep comes from deputy head coach Sulakshan Kulkarni. Jatinder praised how Kulkarni’s methods have transformed their training. “Our sessions now focus on match scenarios and situational cricket,” he explained. “We do more fielding, bowling, and batting drills to stay match-ready. The boys are loving it, and those two wins over Hong Kong show it’s working.”
Sufyan agrees, highlighting Kulkarni’s emphasis on a winning mindset. “He’s instilled this idea that we must always be in top gear, no matter the tournament,” Sufyan said. “Our net sessions feel different now—more confident and skill-focused. It’s revised our approach and given us a real edge.”
Even amid the Asia Cup hype, Jatinder from Ludhiana and Sufyan are keeping an eye on the devastating floods in Punjab. “This is the time to unite and support each other,” Jatinder said. Sufyan echoed that: “We need to stay strong together—this too shall pass, and things will get better.”
Oman’s journey in the Asia Cup promises thrills, upsets, and plenty of learning for these rising stars.
