Dubai: The victory at Sheikh Zayed Stadium ensures India remain unbeaten as they march into the Super 4, where arch-rivals Pakistan await on Sunday.

India, having already booked their Super 4 spot, rested star pacer Jasprit Bumrah and spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, handing opportunities to Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh. Electing to bat first, India lost Shubman Gill early for 5 to a sharp in-swinger from Faisal Shah. But Sanju Samson anchored the innings with a crucial 56 off 45 balls, supported by cameos from Axar Patel and Shivam Dube. Despite regular strikes from Oman’s bowlers — Faisal, Jiten Ramanandi, and Aamir Kaleem bagging two wickets each — India managed a competitive 188/8 in 20 overs.

Oman, playing their first-ever T20I against India, showed remarkable grit in the chase. Skipper Jatinder Singh fell to Kuldeep Yadav after a bright start, but veteran opener Aamir Kaleem (half-century) and Hammad Mirza (51 off 33) stitched a strong second-wicket partnership that briefly raised hopes of an upset. The pair kept India’s bowlers under pressure, forcing captain Yadav to use six different bowling options.

The breakthrough came when Harshit Rana dismissed Kaleem, followed by Hardik Pandya removing Mirza after his fluent fifty. Arshdeep Singh then etched his name in history by becoming the first Indian to claim 100 T20I wickets, as Oman eventually folded 21 runs short.

While Samson’s steady knock will boost his confidence ahead of the Pakistan clash, Oman won plaudits for restricting India below 200 and mounting a fearless chase.