Doha, Qatar – India A secured a convincing six-wicket victory against Oman A at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, clinching their place in the semi-finals of the ACC Men's Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025. In what was a must-win encounter, India A displayed composure and all-round excellence to overcome Oman and advance in the competition.

Oman A, after being put into bat first, struggled to build momentum and posted a total of 135/7 in their allotted 20 overs. Wasim Ali's resilient unbeaten 54 off 45 balls was the cornerstone of their innings, but he lacked substantial support as wickets fell around him. Skipper Hammad Mirza contributed a quickfire 32 off 16 deliveries, while Narayan Saishiv (16) and Karan Sonavale (12) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures.

India A's bowling attack maintained tight control throughout the innings. Suyash Sharma was particularly impressive, claiming 2 wickets for just 12 runs in his four overs. Gurjapneet Singh also took two wickets, while Vijaykumar Vyshak, Naman Dhir, and Harsh Dubey each chipped in with one scalp.

Chasing a target of 136, India A's start was shaky, with openers Vaibhav Suryavanshi (12) and Priyansh Arya (10) dismissed early, leaving the score at 37/2. Naman Dhir injected some impetus with a brisk 30 off 19 balls. However, the game's defining contribution came from Harsh Dubey, who played a mature and unbeaten innings of 53 off 44 deliveries. His knock included seven boundaries and a six. Dubey found a reliable partner in Nehal Wadhera, who contributed a crucial 23 off 24 balls, as the pair constructed a 66-run partnership that effectively sealed the victory. Skipper Jitesh Sharma added the finishing touch, securing the win with a boundary, as India A reached 138/4 in 17.5 overs.

Dubey's performance was particularly significant, as he was promoted to number four in the batting order and seized the opportunity to register his first T20 fifty. His ability to stabilize the innings and maintain a steady scoring rate proved vital in the chase.

Earlier in the tournament, India A had suffered a setback against Pakistan Shaheens, which made the match against Oman a virtual quarter-final. After a strong start to the tournament with a massive win against UAE, the loss against Pakistan A put India A in a must-win situation. In that match, India A collapsed from 91/2 to be all out for 136.

With this victory, India A joins Pakistan Shaheens in qualifying for the semi-finals from Group B. India A will now face the Group A toppers in the semi-final on Friday. The final is scheduled for November 23, where a potential India A vs Pakistan A final could be on the cards.