Samay Shrivastava: Former Madhya Pradesh spinner is now looking to turn things for Oman in Asia Cup 2025
Samay Shrivastava's journey from Bhopal to Oman embodies resilience and unexpected opportunities. Once a promising leg-spinner in India, Samay faced stagnation until 2019, when he moved to Oman.
Last Updated: 05.14 PM, Sep 12, 2025
Samay Shrivastava's cricket journey is one marked by resilience, determination, and an unlikely twist of fate. Once a promising leg-spinner from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, Shrivastava's career stalled in India due to a lack of opportunities at the senior state level. Undeterred, he looked for a new hope and found it in Oman, a country he had little prior knowledge of but which offered a fresh cricketing pathway. Now, as Oman make their Asia Cup debut, he wants to make his mark in one of the biggest tournaments of the continent.
Who is Samay Shrivastava?
Born and raised in Bhopal, Shrivastava excelled through various age levels in Madhya Pradesh cricket, earning accolades in tournaments including the prestigious C.K. Nayudu Trophy.
However, despite consistent performances, a break into the senior side eluded him.
Referred by his coach, Jyoti Prakash Tyagi, to a contact in Oman, Shrivastava made the bold decision to switch allegiances in 2019. Initially, the adaptation was challenging with different climate conditions and cricketing culture, as Oman’s cricket scene was dominated by corporate leagues rather than formal structures seen in India.
Nonetheless, support from Oman’s cricket fraternity, including coach Duleep Mendis and a friend in Oman, Ahmed Bhai, helped him settle and seize limited playing opportunities.
"I was doing well in MP. I had played in all the age groups from the U-16s to 23s. I was performing well, but I was not getting proper chances to play around. So, in 2019, my coach, Jyoti Prakash Tyagi Sir, had a friend in Oman. His name is Ahmed Bhai. So, I was in contact with him. So, he told me that there is such a thing in Oman. As I was not getting proper chances in India, I said, let's try and switch,” the spinner told cricket.com.
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Shrivastava’s journey with the Oman team
Since qualifying to play for Oman in 2022, Shrivastava's persistence has paid off. He has been a standout performer in Oman’s domestic T20 competition, leading wicket-taker since 2023, though he faced heartbreak when omitted from the 2024 T20 World Cup squad despite strong domestic showings.
Shrivastava credits his close supporters and the Omani cricket establishment for their belief in him during those trying times.
"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.”
"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 expressed via cricket.com.
Shrivastava’s stats for the Oman team
Till now, the leg spinner has taken 25 wickets in 12 ODIs and 15 wickets in 15 T20Is he has played so far. He made his mark just in his third T20I for Oman with a career-best 18/5 against Bahrain in 2022.
Shrivastavas’s plans for the Asia Cup
Looking ahead to the Asia Cup 2025, Shrivastava is excited and motivated, especially given the prospect of facing his birth country, India, on the field.
Playing against renowned Indian cricketers such as Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav is seen by Shrivastava as a dream opportunity to showcase his skill on a prestigious stage. He reflects philosophically on destiny, though he did not play for India, fate has placed him opposite some of its biggest stars.
"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.
"I believe in destiny. So, maybe God has written it this way that if not together, you have to play against each other,” he stated.