Follow UsSamay Shrivastava might not be a name that will ring a bell to most.
But in the Asia Cup, that could very well change when the leg-spinner spins a web around the batters.
Born in Bhopal, Shrivastava moved to Oman after his career in India came to a standstill. He did not play any matches for his state, Madhya Pradesh, at the senior level, which left him frustrated.
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In the search for a new life, the leg-spinner switched to Oman, a relatively unknown territory for someone who’s spent his entire life in India. Naturally, adapting to the conditions and understanding the cricketing ecosystem in a new country could be challenging.
That’s where Shrivastava found great support, which made his transition smooth.
"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," Shrivastava said in a chat with Cricket.com.
Shrivasava initially found it tough as the highest level of cricket outside international matches was corporate cricket, but has since adapted and been part of the national set-up since 2022.
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"So, it was very tough earlier because of the conditions, climate, a lot of things are very different here than what I have played in India. So, we know how cricket is played in India, and here, it is mostly corporate cricket. So, it was a little tough in the beginning. But Ahmed Bhai supported me a lot. Duleep Sir [Head coach Duleep Mendis] supported me a lot. So, the only thing was to keep getting chances here," the 34-year-old said.
"I cashed in on the chances. Then, when I came in 2019, I qualified [to play for Oman] in 2022. I joined the team. After that, the journey has been going on."
It was the lack of chances that forced Shrivastava to ditch the comforts of India to move to an unknown country - a country he admits he had not heard of before the opportunity came knocking. But history was repeating itself in Oman as well.
Despite putting up stellar performances in the lead-up to the 2024 T20 World Cup, he did not find a place in the team for the mega event, which brought back uncomfortable memories. In fact, no bowler has more wickets (34) in Oman's D20 competition since 2023 than the leg-spinner from Bhopal.
"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," Shrivastava revealed.
"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.
"So, then I calmed down a bit. I told him that I have given Oman Cricket so much time. So, it's not like I make a switch again. Moreover, I was getting older. So, it's not like I can leave things and start somewhere else. So, there was a struggle. But I had a belief that whenever I get a chance, I will do well for the team."
Post the 2024 T20 World Cup, Oman Cricket underwent a massive change. Over 10 players, including captain Aqib Ilyas and other senior players, were suspended as they refused to play for the team until their dues from the tournament were cleared. Whether or not they will be given a chance in the future is yet to be seen.
But Shrivastava, who was denied a place in the World Cup squad, suddenly became a key figure in the team. Will they feel the loss of Ilyas and co in the upcoming Asia Cup? Shrivastava does not think so.
"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. 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 opined.
"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."
A new-look team under veteran captain Jatinder Singh has fared very well. On the ODI front, they lost just two of their eight matches at home against the UAE, Netherlands, Namibia and the USA. And then when they went to the States for a tri-series against the hosts and Canada, they won three out of four, including one in a Super Over.
Those results catapulted Oman into fourth place in the CWCL League 2 points table, as they find themselves in a good position to play the 2027 ODI World Cup qualifiers.
Oman's rise should not come as a surprise, as over the years, they have one of the best infrastructures and facilities, at least among the associate nations, allowing them to compete against every opposition in the world. They made it to the T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2024, and they have a chance to make it to the 2026 edition, if they fare well in the qualifiers at home next month.
"When I came to Oman, I saw the things here, like indoor academy, grounds, wickets...I was quite impressed. And, all around, barring the UAE, Oman has the best facilities, in my opinion," Shrivastava, who has trained with Indian great Bishen Singh Bedi during his younger days, said.
While he will not play for India, Shrivastava will turn up against India in the Asia Cup this time around.
"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," Shrivastava, who aims to get the wickets of Pandya and Surya at the Asia Cup, said.
"I believe in destiny. So, maybe God has written it this way that if not together, you have to play against each other."
Things have finally fallen into place for a player whose journey was defined by a series of detours. Shrivastava's relentless perseverance is a powerful lesson that success isn't about the speed of your route, but the conviction to stay on it. Now, with a renewed opportunity to play for Oman, his sole focus is on making the smallest thing count.
This isn’t just a new chapter; it is the start of something much bigger for Shrivastava and Oman.