Cricket can be cruel, and Hardik Pandya found that out the hard way in India’s clash against Oman at the Asia Cup 2025 in Abu Dhabi on Friday. The Indian all-rounder was dismissed in the most unfortunate fashion, a freak run-out that left fans and teammates stunned.The incident happened in the eighth over of India’s innings.
Facing Jiten Ramanandi, Sanju Samson drove a full delivery back towards the bowler. The ball was struck firmly but slightly uppish. Ramanandi, diving to his left in an instinctive move, managed to get a fingertip on it. That tiny deflection turned into a disaster for India.The ball ricocheted off Ramanandi’s hand and crashed straight into the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Hardik, who had backed up just a few steps, was caught well short of his crease. He walked off immediately, acknowledging that the ball had made contact. His stay lasted just one delivery and one run, with the scorecard reading a cruel run out.
The dismissal halted India’s momentum at a key stage. Having already lost Shubman Gill early and Abhishek Sharma after a breezy 38, India were looking to rebuild with Samson and Pandya at the crease. Instead, Oman found themselves right back in the contest with two wickets falling in quick succession. Oman’s bowlers, led by Ramanandi, who already had a hand in two dismissals, were visibly lifted by the moment.For Hardik, it was a nightmare outing, undone without making an error of his own. For Oman, it was a moment to savour, as the Associate nation continued to punch above their weight against the defending champions.
