KEY POINTS
- Ishan Kishan’s 18-ball fifty powered India to 209 after early fireworks from Sanju Samson.
- Hardik Pandya smashed 28-ball 52 and added 81 runs with Shivam Dube
- Indian bowlers bundled Namibia out for 116 following mid-innings collapse.
- Gerhard Erasmus claimed career-best 4/20, the best figures against India in T20 World Cups.
NEW DELHI: Defending champions India delivered a commanding all-round performance at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday, storming to a 93-run victory over Namibia in the 18th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Powered by blistering half-centuries from Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya, India posted a formidable 209 for 9 before bowling out Namibia for 116 to seal their second consecutive win in the tournament.
Kishan, Pandya set up mammoth total
Electing to field first, Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus saw his decision backfire spectacularly as India’s batters seized control from the outset.
Sanju Samson provided an early fireworks show, smashing 22 off just eight balls with three towering sixes before falling to Ben Shikongo in the second over.
That brought Ishan Kishan to the crease, and the left-hander unleashed mayhem.
India march to a convincing win in Delhi to make it two in two at #T20WorldCup 2026 👊
📝: https://t.co/UajUMbf3Tn pic.twitter.com/8oOKDkAe11
— ICC (@ICC) February 12, 2026
In an electrifying 79-run stand with Tilak Varma that consumed only 31 balls, Kishan raced to an 18-ball fifty, the third-fastest by an Indian in T20 World Cups.
He eventually departed for a scintillating 61 off 24 deliveries, studded with six fours and five maximums.
India suffered a brief wobble when captain Suryakumar Yadav (12) and Varma (25) fell in quick succession, leaving the hosts at 124 for 4 in the 12th over.
Hardik Pandya then took charge. The vice-captain launched a breathtaking counterattack, smashing four fours and four sixes in a 28-ball 52.
He added 81 runs in just 6.3 overs alongside Shivam Dube, who contributed a valuable 23 off 16.
A cracking half-century from Hardik Pandya sets India up in Delhi👊
It is one of the @marriottbonvoy Milestones of the #T20WorldCup👌
📝: https://t.co/UajUMbf3Tn pic.twitter.com/U9lHf0IVPl
— ICC (@ICC) February 12, 2026
Both perished on consecutive deliveries in the 19th over, triggering a late slide that saw India lose three more wickets. But the damage was already done.
Erasmus was the lone bright spot for Namibia, claiming career-best figures of 4 for 20, the best by any bowler against India in T20 World Cups.
Spinners strike after lively start as Namibia crumble
Chasing 210, Namibia began positively, reaching 67 for 1 in seven overs.
Opener Louren Steenkamp looked dangerous with a 20-ball 29, while Jan Frylinck made 20 off 15.
But the tide turned instantly when Steenkamp fell to the first ball of the eighth over.
What followed was a spectacular collapse: Namibia lost eight wickets for just 49 runs, crashing from 67 for 1 to 116 all out in 18.2 overs.
Varun Chakravarthy led India’s bowling effort with a superb three-wicket haul, while Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya claimed two each.
Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Shivam Dube picked up one apiece as the spin trio strangled Namibia’s middle order.
What it means
The emphatic victory propelled India to the top of Group A with four points and a healthy net run rate.
Namibia, despite flashes of promise, remain winless and face an uphill battle to stay alive in the tournament.
