Delhi : India defeated Namibia by 93 runs at Delhi in ICC T20 WC 2026 Group A clash, with help of Hardik Pandya’s all-round show.
Batting first, India flexed their muscle in batting, putting on 209/9 in 20 overs.
After a quickfire 22 by Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma (25) gave India the perfect launch pad with a 79-run partnership in just 31 balls. Kishan, who has been in sparkling form since returning to the team earlier this year, produced another punchy knock, hitting six fours and five sixes for 61 off 24 balls.
India motored to 120/2 in 10 overs and Hardik Pandya made sure India maintained the momentum with a 28-ball 52. He and Shivam Dube (23) powered to a 81-run partnership for the fifth wicket to take India well past the 200-mark.
However, Namibia was able to limit the damage in the last couple of overs as they lost five wickets, slipping from 205/5 to 209/9. Captain Erasmus led the fightback with 4/20 in his four overs. The off-spinner sent back Kishan, Varma, Pandya and Axar Patel and was also involved in Dube’s run out.
Coming in to chase Louren Steenkamp and Jan Frylinck showed their flair by setting a scoring rate of 10.
Arshdeep Singh provided the breakthrough by dimissing Frylinck for 22 off 15. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton joined Steenkamp next.
Steenkamp continued scoring boundaries to close out first Powerplay at a strong 57/1 – Namibia’s best in T20 World Cups.
Namibia were maintaining their intent when No.1 ICC Men’s T20i Bowler, Varun Chakaravarthy, was introduced and he hit the timber of Steenkamp on his first ball.
Skipper Erasmus came in next and extended his earlier impact by hitting two huge maximums off Axar Patel first over.
Chakaravarthy was India’s man again as his spin got the better of Loftie-Eaton (13 off 13) and JJ Smit (0) in the space of three balls.
Axar, after a tough previous over, joined his spin counterpart to further break Namibia’s middle-order by striking big with Eramus’ wicket. He topped it with a wicket-maiden.
His second arrived shortly, courtesy a great diving catch by Bumrah to get Malan Kruger after the batter heaved a four over mid-on.
The next Namibian batters could not hold on as Bumrah unleashed his classic toe-crusher to send back Trumplemann for 6.
In very next over, Hardik Pandya took 2 consecutive wickets and narrowly missed hat trick. Shivam Dube put final nail in coffin by taking penultimate wicket in 19th over and handing India 93 runs victory as Namibia were bundled out for 116.
Brief Scorecard –
1st Innings :
IND : 209-9 (20)
2nd Innings :
NAM : 116 (18.2)
Result : India won by 93 runs.
