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Ahead of Friday’s T20 World Cup 2026 encounter in Pallekele, Oman captain Jatinder Singh has made a bold claim, asserting that now is the 'best time to crush' a bruised Australian side. With Australia already eliminated from the tournament following successive losses to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka, Singh believes his team is perfectly positioned to capitalise on their opponent's vulnerability. He views this match as a golden opportunity for Oman to secure a historic victory against a demoralized cricketing powerhouse.
Australia is not doing well at the moment: Oman captain Jatinder Singh
The captain's aggressive stance highlights the dire state of Australia's current campaign, which has been labeled their worst T20 World Cup performance since 2009. For the first time in 17 years, the Australians have failed to progress past the group stage. Their exit was officially sealed when a rain-affected washout between Ireland and Zimbabwe extinguished any remaining mathematical chance for the former champions to advance, leaving them with nothing but pride to play for in their final fixture.
"One hundred percent this is an opportunity. T20 is a game of momentum and moments. If you play those moments right, you can do anything on that particular day. Australia is not doing well at the moment… it is the best time to crush them," Jatinder Singh said before the match, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
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Despite Oman’s own struggles in the tournament, having faced significant losses against Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Ireland, Jatinder’s declaration carries weight. Oman’s history with Australia includes a heavy defeat during the 2024 World Cup, but the captain believes the current version of the Australian team is a shadow of its former self. He sees an opponent that has lost its clinical edge, presenting a unique opening for his side to strike.
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The former champions arrived in Sri Lanka with high expectations, but their campaign has been derailed by a series of misfortunes. The bowling attack was compromised before the tournament even started, as injuries sidelined both Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. These absences, combined with the poor form of marquee players like Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green, left the squad struggling to find a cohesive rhythm or winning formula.
Jatinder Singh on how to make Oman more competitive
To improve Oman’s long-term competitiveness, Jatinder highlighted the importance of increased exposure to high-level franchise cricket. He believes that if Omani players were given more opportunities to participate in global leagues, they could bridge the significant experience gap that currently exists between associate nations and Test-playing powerhouses. According to Singh, the talent is already there, but the lack of a platform to showcase and refine those skills remains a major hurdle.
This call for professional exposure comes on the heels of a relatively light international schedule for the team. In 2025, Oman played only 15 T20Is and eight ODIs, a workload that pales in comparison to the consistent calendars of the world's elite teams. Jatinder argues that regular matches against top-tier opposition, combined with training stints at facilities like India's National Cricket Academy (NCA), are essential for the squad to develop the mental and technical sharpness required for the world stage.
"Well if I have to sum up [how Oman can improve], it would be if we have the franchise cricket happening in the country or our guys get a chance to play franchise cricket elsewhere. I think we can fill that gap and they can bring vast amount of experience for our national team," Jatinder added.
"But if we don't get to play competitive cricket, whereas other teams are getting to play the competitive cricket, we will need to fill that gap. There have been instances where we've been inviting the teams to come and play in Oman. The response has been really delayed, or we don't get any response. So I think if we have the franchise cricket, that would really fill the gap," he concluded.
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