Picture : BCCI/X
Defending Champions India won their second legaue game encounter against minnows Namibai by 93 runs at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley’s stadium . This after Namibia Skipper Gerhard Erasmus had won the toss and opted to bowl first.
India were off to a flier with Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson( getting game in the absence of Abhishek Sharma) . Samson scored a quick 8 ball 22 ( 1 four, 3 sixes) but missed out a big sopportunity to score big one. Ishan Kishan on the other hand did not miss the chance scoring a blazing 61 ( 24 balls , 6 fours, 5 sixes) .
The middle- order though barring Hardik showed some jitters with the likes of Tilak Varma ( 25). Skipper Suryakumar Yadav scored just 12, Shivam Dube ( 23 ) Rinku Singh ( 1), Axar Patel ( 0) further added to the woes . All- rounder Hardik Pandya came into his elements scoring a fast 52 ( 28 balls , 4 fours, 4 sixes) . India finishing strongly with 209/9 in their 20 overs.
Namibia Bowling : Ruben Trumpelmann 0/38 ( 4 overs), Ben Shikongo 1/41 ( 3 overs), JJ Smit 1/50 ( 4 overs), Max Heingo 0/18( 1 over), Skipper Gerhard Erasmus was brilliant 4/20 ( 4 overs), Bernard Scholtz 1/41 ( 4 overs)
In reply, Namibia lost wickets regularly and that hurt them big. They showed good intent though. But India’s experiance was just too much to handle. Namibia could manage only 116 /10 in 18. 2 overs. The batting scores told the story for them – Louren Steenkamp ( 29), Jan Frylinck ( 22), Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton ( 13), Gerhard Erasmus ( 18) , JJ Smit ( 0), Zane Green ( hit- wicket 11), Malan Kruger ( 5), Ruben Trumpelmann ( 6), Bernard Scholtz ( 4), Ben Shikongo ( 0), Max Heingo not out ( 0)
India Bowling Figures : Hardik Pandya 2/21 ( 4 overs), Arshdeep Singh 1/36 ( 3 overs), Shivam Dube 1/11 ( 2.2 overs), Jasprit Bumrah 1/20 ( 4 overs), Varun Chakaravarthy 3/7 ( 2 overs), Axar Patel 2/20( 3 overs)
India now take on Pakistan in Colombo on Sunday 15th february. A match where Team India will have to address their middle-order wobble . In both against USA and Namibia it came cropper
Match: T20 World Cup 2026, 18th Match
Venue: Delhi | Date: February 12, 2026
