The Asia Cup 2025 group stage reaches its final stop on Friday when India take on Oman in Match 12 at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium. While India have already sealed their Super Four berth, this clash will be historic for Oman as they line up against the Men in Blue for the very first time in international cricket.
For India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, this will feel like a dress rehearsal before the high-voltage clash against Pakistan on Sunday. For Oman, though, it is a golden opportunity to test themselves against one of the strongest sides in world cricket.
Abu Dhabi Weather Report
Fans in Abu Dhabi can expect hot and dry conditions on Friday evening. The temperature is likely to hover around 36°C at the start (6:30 PM local time) before cooling down to 32°C as the match goes deeper into the night.
There is no chance of rain, which means we are set for an uninterrupted contest. However, the extreme heat combined with a touch of evening dew may challenge the bowlers, especially in the second innings.
Zayed Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
The Sheikh Zayed surface has been fair to both batters and bowlers throughout this tournament. In the six Asia Cup matches played here so far, results have been split evenly — three wins for sides batting first and three wins for chasing teams.
- Pace bowlers may find some early swing and bounce under the lights.
- Spinners are expected to play a key role as the game progresses, with dry patches and cracks opening up.
- The outfield is fast, and boundaries have flowed once set batters have found rhythm.
Recent results suggest that chasing could be slightly easier, especially with dew assisting the batting side later in the evening.
India vs Oman – Predicted XIs
India probable XI: Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.
Oman probable XI: Aamir Kaleem, Jatinder Singh (c), Hammad Mirza, Vinayak Shukla (wk), Wasim Ali, Hassnain Shah, Shah Faisal, Aryan Bisht, Shakeel Ahmed, Samay Shrivastava, Jiten Ramanandi.
What to Expect
India will aim to fine-tune their combinations ahead of the Super Four, likely giving chances to fringe players while still maintaining momentum. Oman, meanwhile, will be eyeing respectability and perhaps even a shock, as they test themselves against one of the tournament favourites.
The Zayed Stadium promises another intriguing contest, with conditions once again placing emphasis on adaptability — both with bat and ball.
