February 12, 2026, Delhi : The Indian cricket team continued their dominant run in the T20 World Cup with a resounding 93 run victory over Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. After being asked to bat first on a responsive surface, the Indian top order displayed aggressive intent from the opening over. Ishan Kishan led the charge with a blistering half century, finding the boundary with ease and putting the Namibian bowlers under immediate pressure. His partnership with Tilak Varma provided the perfect platform for a massive total.
Despite a brief middle order wobble caused by the clever variations of Gerhard Erasmus, who finished with a commendable four wicket haul, India managed to cross the 200 run mark. Hardik Pandya played a pivotal role in the later stages, striking the ball cleanly to ensure the scoreboard kept ticking. His composed knock, supported by useful contributions from the lower order, propelled India to a formidable 209 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs.
Namibia began their chase with surprising confidence, managing to keep up with the required rate during the powerplay. However, the introduction of spin changed the complexion of the game. Varun Chakaravarthy proved to be the undoing of the Namibian middle order, picking up three crucial wickets in a disciplined spell that stifled the scoring. Axar Patel provided excellent support from the other end, picking up two wickets to further derail the chase.
As the pressure mounted, the Namibian batting lineup struggled to find answers to the accurate Indian attack. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya also chipped in with wickets, ensuring no partnership could flourish. The innings eventually folded for 116 in the 19th over, handing India a comprehensive win and solidifying their position at the top of the group table. Hardik Pandya was named the player of the match for his all round contribution.
Brief Scores:
India: 209/9 (20 overs)
Ishan Kishan 61 (24), Hardik Pandya 52 (28); Gerhard Erasmus 4/20
Namibia: 116/10 (18.2 overs)
Louren Steenkamp 29 (20), Jan Frylinck 22 (15); Varun Chakaravarthy 3/7, Hardik Pandya 2/21, Axar Patel 2/20
