Under a hazy night sky at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, India continued their march in the T20 World Cup 2026. Despite a bizarre middle-order stutter against Namibia’s unorthodox spin, a blistering opening from Ishan Kishan and a clinical bowling masterclass from Varun Chakaravarthy secured a 93-run victory. Speaking through the game ahead of their clash with Pakistan.
With Abhishek Sharma sidelined by a stomach bug, Sanju Samson was gifted a rare opportunity. While Samson’s stay was short and crisp including three massive sixes (22 off 8), it was Ishan Kishan who provided the longevity and base India needed.
Ishan Kishan: He smashed 61 off 24 balls, including four sixes in a single over against JJ Smit. India’s Powerplay score of 86/1 set a new tournament record.
Hardik Pandya: After a mid-innings lull where India struggled against spin, Hardik Pandya (52 off 28) re-energized the crowd. His 81-run partnership with Shivam Dube pushed India past the 200-mark.
Erasmus mystery: Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus turned the game into a trial by fire for India's middle order. Using a "side-arm" release and varying his depth at the crease, he claimed career-best figures of 4/20, triggering a late Indian collapse where they lost 5 wickets for just 4 runs.
Namibia’s chase of 210 started with a spark, reaching 67/1 in the eighth over. However, the introduction of Varun Chakaravarthy effectively ended the contest.
Ten balls, three wickets: Chakaravarthy’s "mystery" was unreadable for the Namibian batters. He took three wickets in his first ten deliveries, ripping through the top order.
Bumrah’s return: Playing his first game after recovering from illness, Jasprit Bumrah looked sharp, ending the resistance of Zane Green with a trademark pinpoint yorker.
Final Blow: Hardik Pandya capped off an MVP night by taking the final two wickets in successive deliveries to bundle out the visitors for 116.
The Indian camp received a massive boost as Abhishek Sharma was discharged from the hospital and was present at the ground. While he missed today’s game, he is expected to be fit for the Pakistan clash. Washington Sundar has also re-joined the squad, adding further depth to the spin department.
