MUSCAT: “The boys showed a lot of character and self-belief,” said Oman head coach Sulakshan Kulkarni, summing up his maiden tour that not only delivered a tri-series triumph in the Namibian capital Windhoek but also marked an encouraging reset for the national side.

Having taken over on March 1, 2026, Kulkarni’s first assignment—the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series—arrived at a crucial juncture for Oman cricket. The campaign followed on the heels of a forgettable T20 World Cup outing in Sri Lanka, leaving the squad in need of direction and renewed confidence.

“We all were downcast after the T20 World Cup show, but it was very important to lift the boys’ morale,” Kulkarni said. “We had good training sessions for the tri-series at home, and I am quite impressed by the boys’ application to the game situation.”

The response in Namibia was emphatic. Oman returned with five points from a possible eight, registering two wins, one no-result and a narrow defeat in a last-over thriller against the hosts. The effort not only secured them the tri-series but also lifted them to third place in the eight-team League 2 standings with 29 points from 24 matches—firmly in the race for a top-four finish and a spot in the 2027 ODI World Cup Qualifier.

Yet, for Kulkarni, the significance of the tour extends beyond results.

“Conditions were not conducive for the players, but they adapted very well,” he noted. “We had batters and bowlers come up with their career-best performances.”

Leading that charge was Hammad Mirza, whose unbeaten century and a fluent half-century marked him out as one of the tour’s standout performers as he finished as the top run-getter with 201.

“Mirza was the standout batter and has displayed a lot of potential,” Kulkarni said. Valuable contributions also came from skipper Jatinder Singh, his opening partner Ashish Odedare, Wasim Ali and Mujibur Ali, underlining the team’s growing depth, while the bowling unit delivered with equal impact through Hasnain Shah, Muhammed Imran and Shakeel Ahmed.

Shah and Imran produced their career-best efforts, with the former ending the tri-series as the top wicket-taker with nine wickets.

Kulkarni, 59, also singled out the team’s fielding as a decisive factor in their resurgence. “There has been big improvement in fielding, and that played a big role,” he said, pointing to Mujibur Ali’s sensational catch in the closing moments of their concluding match as a reflection of the team’s sharpness and intent.

A key element behind the turnaround, the coach revealed, was a deliberate shift in preparation and mindset ahead of the tour.

“We worked very hard, and the support staff, especially assistant coach Ashim Narang, has done an amazing job,” he said.

Kulkarni added: “I suggested our curator Anoop Kandy prepare good batting wickets back home. The domestic practice games saw top-order batters click and gain confidence with good scores; teams were scoring 270-plus, and that mindset to chase around 300 came in good stead during the Windhoek tri-series.”

The experienced Indian coach brings a wealth of experience from the domestic circuit, having coached several top teams like Mumbai and Tamil Nadu and mentored players like Suryakumar Yadav, and Ajinkya Rahane to name a few who have gone on to shine for India.

But his immediate focus with Oman is clear: building a resilient, competitive unit driven by consistency.

“We have a talented team, and I want to bring in that spirit of ‘never say die’,” he said. “At the same time, the boys need to keep performing consistently. No one can take his place for granted.”

He was also mindful of the groundwork laid before him. “We have a good legacy, and the team had the best guidance from my predecessor Duleep Mendis sir,” he added.

With the next League 2 tri-series in Nepal beginning April 25, featuring Nepal and the UAE, Oman have a significant opportunity to tighten their grip on a top-four position.

“I thank the Oman Cricket Board for their trust,” Kulkarni said. “But I am here to create an impact—one that is worth the boys.”

For a team seeking its maiden ODI World Cup appearance, the early signs under Kulkarni point to belief, structure and momentum aligning at just the right time. The Windhoek success captures the essence of his first assignment in charge—one that has already begun to reshape the team’s outlook.

Photos- 1. Sulakshan Kulkarni seen with his team in Windhoek

2. Sulakshan Kulkarni handing over an award to Hammad Mirza, who emerged as the tri-series top run-getter. Also seen in assistant coach Ashim Narang

3. Oman players celebrate a dismissal against Namibia

4. Hammad Mirza raises his bat on reaching his maiden ODI century