Jatinder Singh will be in focus as Oman makes their debut in the Asia Cup during the 2025 edition on September 12 against Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium before facing India in Abu Dhabi on September 19 in the final Group A game.
Jatinder has etched his name in the history books by becoming the first-ever Oman captain to lead the side in the Asia Cup. Although Oman has featured in three T20 World Cups before, having played in 2016, 2021, and 2024.
Jatinder Singh – The Punjab Boy Playing For Oman
The Oman captain is from the Indian state of Punjab and was born in the city of Ludhiana in 1989 on 5th March. However, the star batter has revealed that his cricketing journey did not start in India but only after he reached Oman.
As per various reports, Jatinder’s father had moved to Oman in 1975 and worked with the Royal Oman Police. Jatinder and his mother follwed suit in 2003.
Jatinder started playing cricket professionally for Oman from the U-19 level in 2007. He made his debut for the senior team in an international T20 match against Uganda in 2012. His List A (50-over) debut for Oman was against UAE in 2016. However, his official ODI debut only came in 2019, while his maiden T20I outing was in 2015.
“We didn’t even have turf grounds at the start. We played on cement wickets, then on AstroTurf from 2008, and only in 2011 did we get a proper turf ground,” he said. “There were moments when I questioned everything why put in so much without reward? But the passion and hunger kept us going,” said Jatinder in an interaction with PTI on his journey.
Overall, Jatinder has played 61 ODIs and scored 1704 runs at an average of 29.37 with four centuries. In T20Is, he has 1399 runs at an average of 24.54 with eight half-centuries.
The 36-year-old was named Oman’s captain ahead of the 2024 ACC Emerging Cup last year. Jatinder led Oman against a Tilak Varma-led Indian ‘A’ side in that tournament.