NEW DELHI: Oman opener Aamir Kaleem made history on Friday in Abu Dhabi, becoming the oldest batter to score a half-century against India in any format of the game. At 43 years and 303 days, Kaleem broke a record that had stood for over 79 years, previously held by England legend Wally Hammond, who scored 69 against India in a 1946 Test at Old Trafford.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Kaleem’s 64-run innings also made him the oldest to hit a T20I fifty against a full member nation, surpassing Chris Gayle’s long-standing record. The knock followed Mohammad Nabi’s record just a day earlier for the oldest half-century in Asia Cup history.Kaleem battled heat, humidity, and cramps to produce a gritty 64 off 46 balls against the world champions. Partnering with Hammad Mirza, who scored 51, Kaleem added 93 runs for the second wicket, marking Oman’s highest partnership against a full-member nation. The stand also represented the most runs India has conceded against an Associate team.READ ALSO:Who is Aamir Kaleem? Oman’s 43-year-old opener who battled cramps to hit fifty vs IndiaOldest to score 50-plus vs India (All formats)
- 43y 303d – Aamir Kaleem (64 in T20I), Abu Dhabi, 2025
- 43y 31d – England’s Wally Hammond (69 in Test), Manchester, 1946
- 41y 359d – Australia’s Bob Simpson (100 in Test), Adelaide, 1978
For a while, India looked under pressure as Oman’s chase gained momentum. Kaleem also contributed with the ball, taking 2 for 31, showcasing his all-round credentials. The partnership ended when Hardik Pandya took a spectacular boundary catch to dismiss Kaleem off Harshit Rana, followed by Mirza falling in the next over. India eventually won by 21 runs, with Arshdeep Singh claiming his 100th T20I wicket.Oldest to score 50-plus in T20 Asia Cup
- 43y 303d – Aamir Kaleem (64) vs IND, Abu Dhabi, 2025
- 40y 260d – Mohammad Nabi (60) vs SL, Abu Dhabi, 2025
- 39y 142d – T Dilshan (75*) vs PAK, Mirpur, 2016
Earlier, Sanju Samson’s 56 and Abhishek Sharma’s 38 had set India’s total at 188/8, but Kaleem and Mirza ensured Oman remained competitive.Oman skipper Jatinder Singh praised the team’s effort: “I am extremely proud of the unit. The way they came up, they had their plans and executed them well… So proud of the way they have shown their character in the crunch situation.”For Oman, Kaleem’s innings was more than just runs — it was a historic performance and a reminder that age and experience can challenge even the giants of cricket. In the record books, Aamir Kaleem’s name will now sit alongside legends, inspiring Associate players around the world.
