India brush Namibia aside in T20 World Cup

New Delhi, 2026 – India underlined their title credentials with a commanding 93-run victory over Namibia at the T20 World Cup, storming to the summit of Group A and setting up a blockbuster clash with Pakistan on Sunday.

Electing to bat first after losing the toss, the hosts blazed to 209-9 on the back of a power-play record 86-1. Ishan Kishan set the tone, hammering 61 off 24 balls to give India the early impetus. Namibia’s Gerhard Erasmus briefly checked the charge, claiming career-best figures of 4-20 as India slipped to 124-4 midway through the innings.

Hardik Pandya responded in style, crunching four sixes and four fours in a 52-run assault that anchored an 81-run stand with Shivam Dube (23). The late surge lifted India to a daunting 209-9, leaving Namibia needing more than ten an over.

Namibia’s reply began brightly at 67-1 after seven overs, but the chase unravelled once Varun Chakravarthy entered the attack. The mystery spinner snared 3-7 in two overs, dismissing top-scorer Louren Steenkamp (29) and triggering a collapse that saw the African side lose their last eight wickets for 30 runs. Pandya complemented his batting heroics with 2-21, sealing victory when Ben Shikongo was trapped lbw with nearly two overs unused.

The win, India’s second in as many games, keeps the defending champions on course for the Super 8 stage and tees up a high-stakes encounter against neighbours Pakistan after their threatened boycott was averted.