Former Indian cricketer Atul Wassan praised the India cricket team’s smart strategy in the Asia Cup, saying they picked players based on match conditions rather than big names alone. He called it a mature move, especially for benching star pacer Arshdeep Singh despite his status as India’s leading T20I wicket-taker.
Wassan also tipped his hat to Oman for putting up a fierce fight in their 21-run defeat to India during the Super Four stage. The associate nation pushed the Men in Blue hard, keeping the game tense until the end.
India heads into their high-stakes Super Four clash against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday without a single loss. But Oman tested them the most so far. The Indian side posted 188 runs, and Oman came close with 167 for four wickets, thanks to strong half-centuries from Aamir Kaleem and Hammad Mirza.
Arshdeep finally got his chance in this T20I match against Oman and hit a milestone by claiming his 100th wicket—the first Indian to reach that mark in the format. He bowled four overs, picking up one wicket for 37 runs. In the earlier games against UAE and Pakistan, India stuck to Jasprit Bumrah as their main fast bowler, pairing him with a spin attack of Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel. Against Oman, though, they added balance with two pacers—Arshdeep and Harshit Rana—alongside Kuldeep and Axar.
Talking to , Wassan said, “Everyone’s buzzing about Arshdeep not playing, but I think it’s something to celebrate. The Indian team’s showing real maturity. They’re not forcing in players just because of their fame or stats. They’re going with what the pitch and game demand—horses for courses. That’s a big shift from the old days when stars played no matter their form.”
He added, “This approach strengthens the team. Australia has nailed it for years. With India’s depth, we could field two squads and both would reach the finals.”
On Oman’s gritty performance Friday, Wassan noted, “These upsets happen in T20 cricket—underdogs like Oman can rattle you with a couple of world-class knocks. But India still won, showing their class. It was a wake-up call; they’ll review it and come back stronger. I’m thrilled for Oman—their quality is rising, and Asian cricket is on fire. India won’t get complacent now.”
In the match, India chose to bat first. They lost vice-captain Shubman Gill early for just a few runs. But Abhishek Sharma (38 off 15 balls, with five fours and two sixes) and Sanju Samson steadied things with a 66-run partnership. Samson top-scored with 56 off 45 balls (three fours, three sixes), linking up well with Axar Patel (26 off 13, three fours and a six) and Tilak Varma (29 off 18, a four and two sixes). India finished at 188 for nine in 20 overs.
Oman’s bowlers fought back, led by Shah Faisal with two for 23. Aamir Kaleem and Jiten Ramanandi grabbed two wickets each.
Chasing, Oman opened strongly with a 56-run stand between captain Jatinder Singh (32 off 33, five fours) and Kaleem. Kaleem smashed 64 off 46 (seven fours, two sixes), and Mirza added 51 off 33 (three fours, two sixes) in a dangerous 93-run partnership. But India pulled through, holding Oman to 167 for four.
Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, and Harshit Rana each took a wicket. Sanju Samson earned Player of the Match honors for his all-around impact.
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