India on Fire After Early Wobble in T20 World Cup Clash
India have bounced back strongly in their second Group A match of the T20 World Cup 2026. At the Arun Jaitley Stadium, the defending champions reached 190/4 in 17 overs against Namibia, with Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube smashing the bowling around. A total well above 220 now looks very much on the cards.
Namibia won the toss and elected to bowl first, hoping the dew would help them later. But India’s top order made a blazing start before a middle-overs fightback from the associate nation.
Record-Breaking Powerplay Sets the Tone
India got off to a flyer. Openers Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan attacked from ball one. Samson smashed a couple of early sixes before falling to Ben Shikongo. Kishan then took over, smashing a 20-ball fifty and helping India race to their hundred in just 6.5 overs — the fastest team 100 in T20 World Cup history.
Tilak Varma joined Kishan and kept the momentum going. At the end of the powerplay, India were 86/1 and looked set for a 250-plus total.
Namibia’s Spinners Strike Back
The script changed when Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus introduced himself and Bernard Scholtz. The spinners slowed things down cleverly.
First, Erasmus got rid of Ishan Kishan (61 off 24 balls). Then Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian captain, was stumped while trying to accelerate. Tilak Varma followed soon after, caught while attempting a big shot. In no time, India slipped from 120/2 to 124/4.
Namibia’s fightback was impressive. Gary Kirsten, India’s 2011 World Cup-winning coach and now Namibia’s consultant, would have been proud of the discipline shown by his current team.
Hardik and Dube Take Charge
That’s when Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube stepped up. The two all-rounders launched a brutal counter-attack. Hardik played some elegant drives and big sixes, while Dube used his power to clear the ropes regularly.
Their fifty-run partnership came up quickly. In the 16th over alone, 16 runs came, and the 15th over yielded 24 runs. By the end of 17 overs, India stood at 190/4, with both batters looking dangerous. A score of 220 or even 230 is now very much possible.
Key Changes and Team News
India made two big changes. Sanju Samson replaced the unwell Abhishek Sharma, who is out with a stomach infection and might miss the big clash against Pakistan too. Jasprit Bumrah returned after recovering from viral fever and will lead the pace attack alongside Arshdeep Singh.
Namibia brought in Ben Shikongo and an extra batter, trying to tighten their bowling.
What Next for India?
This match is more than just two points for India. After a nervy win over USA in the opener, the batters needed confidence. Hardik and Dube are delivering exactly that.
With three overs left, the Men in Blue will look to finish strongly. Namibia face a tough task chasing on a good batting surface, especially with Bumrah and Arshdeep waiting in the second innings.
Stay tuned for more live updates from this India vs Namibia T20 World Cup 2026 encounter. The defending champions are firmly in control and sending a strong message ahead of tougher battles.
