New Delhi erupted in cheers as India unleashed a batting blitzkrieg against Namibia in the T20 World Cup 2026 at Arun Jaitley Stadium. Opting to field first after winning the toss, Namibia watched helplessly as Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya smashed fiery half-centuries, propelling India to a mammoth 209 for 9 in 20 overs.
Ishan Kishan set the tone early, partnering with Sanju Samson for a quick 25-run stand in just two overs. He then unleashed havoc alongside Tilak Varma, forging a blistering 79-run partnership off 31 balls that rocketed India past 100. Kishan’s explosive 61 off 24 balls – featuring 5 sixes and 6 fours – included a fifty in just 20 deliveries, electrifying the crowd before he departed.
Tilak Varma steadied the innings with a gritty 25 off 21, but captain Suryakumar Yadav managed only 12 off 13. At 124 for 4, Hardik Pandya took charge, combining with Shivam Dube for a match-defining 81-run stand in 39 balls. Pandya’s thunderous 52 off 28 balls, laced with 4 sixes and 4 fours, pushed India beyond 200 before he fell at 205 for 5. The lower order crumbled, but the damage was done, leaving Namibia a towering 210 to chase.
This clash marked the return of Sanju Samson and Jasprit Bumrah to the Indian squad, with Abhishek Sharma and Mohammed Siraj rested. Under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership, India fielded a powerhouse lineup including Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Bumrah.
Namibia, captained by Gerhard Erasmus, relied on Lauren Steenkamp, John Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, JJ Smit, Zane Green (wk), Ruben Trumpelmann, Malan Kruger, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo, and Max Mwingi. With back-to-back wins in sight, India eyes another dominant performance as Namibia faces an uphill battle under the Delhi lights.