India defeat Oman by 21 runs, raise concerns ahead of Super 4 match against Pakistan
India secured a 21-run win over Oman in a final group match, a game that proved to be more of a challenge than expected. India, who batted first, posted a total of 188 for 8 on a sluggish track. Oman replied with a strong batting performance, scoring 167 for 4 and putting the favorites under pressure. The victory maintains India's perfect record going into the Super Four stage, but the match exposed some areas of concern for the team
The match saw India experiment with its batting order. Captain Suryakumar Yadav chose to go unused at number 11, while players like Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav batted ahead of him. The plan was to give batting practice to players who had not had much time in the middle during the tournament. However, this strategy was not without its struggles.
Only a few Indian batters capitalized on the opportunity. Sanju Samson, batting at No. 3, top-scored with a 45-ball 56, an innings that lacked fluency but provided valuable time in the middle. Abhishek Sharma continued his explosive form, smashing a quick 38 off 15 balls, while Axar Patel contributed a brisk 26 from 13 balls. The contributions from these three players were crucial in setting a competitive total.
Oman, who were already eliminated from the tournament, showed a spirited performance. Batting with freedom, they were led by half-centuries from Aamir Kaleem (64 off 46 balls) and Hammad Mirza (51 off 33 balls). The duo built a strong 93-run partnership for the second wicket, which put India's bowling attack under pressure. The absence of key bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy was evident, as India's bowlers struggled to take wickets and contain the scoring.
Without Bumrah and Chakravarthy, the bowling attack lacked its usual threat. On the batting side, the struggles of some players in the middle order showed that India cannot over-depend on its top performers. The team will look to address these issues as they prepare for the Super Four stage, where they will face stronger opponents, including a highly anticipated rematch with Pakistan.
