Oman is fielding Samay Shrivastava at the Asia Cup 2025. The Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh-born cricketer switched his allegiance to Oman in 2022 after waiting for an elusive call-up to join Team India’s squad. Shrivastava spent nearly three decades in India and took part in several domestic-level competitions before switching to Oman.
Samay responded to questions during a long interview ahead of Oman’s highly-anticipated match against India at the Asia Cup 2025. He spoke on his journey to Oman, influential persons behind his decision, and other topics.
Who Influenced Shrivastava’s Switch to Oman?
Samay claims he was performing at a decent level in MP domestic cricket circuits from the under-16s to under-23s. However, he suggests that these good performances were not enough to earn him a starting place in India’s senior squad.
The idea to switch allegiances came from his local coach Prakash Tyagi after opportunities were not forthcoming back home. Tyagi reached out to his contact Ahmed in Oman, and they jointly orchestrated Shrivastava’s move abroad:
“So, it was a little tough in the beginning. But Ahmed Bhai supported me a lot. So, the only thing was to keep getting chances here,” Shrivastava said.
When Did Shrivastava Qualify to Play for Oman?
Samay went to Oman in 2019 and it took 3 years before he got his first call-up in 2022:
“I cashed in on the chances. Then, when I came in 2019, I qualified [to become a cricketer for Oman] in 2022. I joined the team. After that, the journey has been going on,” he said during the interview.
Shrivastava Recalls How Few Playing Opportunities Back Home Influenced His Switch
Samay failed to break into India’s squad after remarkable performances at domestic level. The lack of playing opportunities triggered his switch, and he credits several persons as vital to his movement abroad:
“At one time, I was the highest wicket taker in the domestic. When the World Cup team was announced last year in West Indies and I didn’t get selected in the 15. So, then I felt like those things are repeating again,” he said.
“Ahmed bhai, my Godfather here, he supported me a lot at that time. And the company where I play, Kimji Ramdas Madhu bhai [Madhusinh Jesrani, Secretary], Pankaj bhai [Pankaj Khimji, Chairman, Oman Cricket], they backed me like anything,” he added.
I Faced Game-Time Struggles During Early Years as Oman Player – Samay Admits
It wasn’t all rosy for Samay after his switch, and he had to deal with a lack of proper game time in Oman for few years before his major break:
“I was with the team from 2022 and I was not getting a chance to play for Oman. I made my debut in 2022 for T20s. After that, I have been sitting out for two years. The team was an old team. Maybe there was a combination I could fit, or nothing was working out,” the cricketer said.
“Now I have been a regular and we are doing really good – in fact we are doing wonders for the Oman team, I believe and yes, we can say that we have some team-building experience,” he added.
Shrivastava Details the Dressing Room Mentality in Oman
Samay claims that the passion in Oman’s contingent could drive them to do well at the Asia Cup and future tournaments:
“There is a passion in all the new players are new. There is a passion to do well, to perform well, to win. So, that is a very good thing in the team. And there is a trust in each other. It’s not like this that he will do this, he will do that. Everyone is like, I have to perform,” Samay said.
Will Shrivastava Face India at the Asia Cup 2025?
Oman’s Group A fixture vs India is set for a September 19 showdown, and Shrivastava relishes the upcoming experience:
“It’s a dream come true. First, you dream that you will play for India, and now, I am playing against India. I will play against Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Kuldeep Yadav. They are legends. So, there is excitement, and there is a chance for me that I want to play with them. But now, I am playing against them. So, it’s a big opportunity for me,” the spinner said.
He jokingly added that the match-up against India could be his destiny since he failed to break into his home country’s national team:
“I believe in destiny. So, maybe God has written it this way that if not together, you have to play against each other,” he concluded.
