IND vs NAM, T20 World Cup 2026: Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya help India cruise past Namibia

The Indian cricket team returned to the top of Group A following a 93-run victory over Namibia in their second T20 World Cup 2026 match played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Thursday.

World No. 1 India powered their way to 209/9, riding on a blistering 61 off 24 from Ishan Kishan and a late charge from Hardik Pandya, who scored 52 off 28. Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus starred with the ball with figures of 4/20.

Namibia, 15th in the T20 rankings, started strongly and were placed at 57/1 at the end of the powerplay.

However, Varun Chakravarthy, with figures of 3/7 from two overs, triggered a collapse. Namibia were eventually bowled out for 116 in 18.2 overs.

India, with four points from two matches and a Net Run Rate of 3.050, returned to the top of the Group A standings. Pakistan also have four points from two matches but have an NRR of 0.932.

The winner of the India vs Pakistan match scheduled in Colombo on Sunday will qualify for the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup with a match to spare.

Namibia, who opted to field, were sent on a leather hunt early. Sanju Samson, drafted in for the still-recovering Abhishek Sharma, provided the early momentum with a rapid 22 off 8 before falling in the second over.

Kishan raced to his fifty in 20 deliveries. His knock, laced with six fours and five sixes, set the tone for India’s highest powerplay score at the T20 World Cups with 86/1.

India were 104/1 in seven overs, scoring at nearly 15 runs per over. However, the reigning T20 World Cup champions were pegged back once the 79-run partnership between Kishan and Tilak Varma was broken in the eighth over by Gerhard Erasmus.

India, uncharacteristically, struggled against spin from overs eight to 13th, losing three wickets and scoring 30 in those six overs.

The hosts, however, regained momentum through Hardik Pandya, whose 52 off 28 balls injected fresh urgency. He struck four fours and four sixes, adding a crucial 50-run stand with Shivam Dube to push India past 200.

Namibia, led by skipper Gerhard Erasmus, clawed the contest back at the death, by picking up five wickets in the last two overs and giving away just 10 runs.

The African side made a solid start, with Louren Steenkamp (29), Jan Frylinck (22) and Gerhard Erasmus (18) making handy contributions at the top.

However, Namibia could not sustain the momentum, with Varun Chakravarthy leading India’s charge in the middle overs.

Namibia, who were 85/2 in nine overs, folded quickly after Chakravarthy, the world No. T20I bowler, dismissed Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton and JJ Smit in the 10th over.

The two wickets initiated a collapse as Namibia folded for 116 in 18.2 overs

Varun Chakravarthy finished with figures of 3/7, having also accounted for Namibia’s Louren Steenkamp earlier. Hardik, who was named the Player of the Match for his all-round contributions, and Axar Patel contributed with two wickets each.

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