India vs Namibia ICC MT20 WC, 2026, Full Score Card

OUT! HIT WICKET! A tame end to the Namibian innings. Full and pushed across off, Zane Green goes deep in the crease and goes for the reverse-batted shot. He swings at it and fails to connect. On the follow-through of the swing, the bat clips the off stump and the stumps light up. Green cannot quite believe it. He stands there for a moment before dropping his head in disappointment. India win by 93 runs and make it two in two.

Dug in short, on middle. Zane pivots on the back foot for the pull but mistimes it to mid-wicket.

Out comes the slower ball, fuller and on off, Max stabs it down on the off side. Hardik ends with figures of 4-0-21-2.

No hat-trick! After picking the last two wickets with full balls, Pandya tries to change it up and he bangs it in short, over middle. Max Heingo hangs on the back foot and defends it watchfully. A wry smile from Hardik as he realises that he should have stuck to the full ball.

Max Heingo is the last batter in for Namibia and he will face the hat-trick ball.

OUT! PLUMB IN FRONT! Ben Shikongo takes the review more in hope than anything else. Hardik keeps the stumps in play with a length delivery. It's a slower off-cutter. Shikongo is caught on the crease and looks to whip it away. The ball stays low and Ben is beaten on the inside edge before being rapped low on the front pad. UltraEdge shows no bat and the Ball Tracking has the ball crashing into the middle stump. Two in two for Pandya and he is on a hat-trick.

Another one bites the dust and the new batter walks out. Ben Shikongo is in at number 10 for Namibia.

OUT! CAUGHT! Hardik Pandya gets himself on the board. Pandya sticks to the pace-off option but this is fuller, on off and middle at 68 mph. Bernard stays leg side and once again, he fails to read the slower ball. He swings early and gets it right off the toe end of the blade. It goes only as far as long on, where Axar Patel takes an easy catch without moving an inch. Hardik gestures a thumbs-up to Axar, and the two exchange smiles.

Not far away from clipping the top of the stumps! Off-cutter, on a good length, on middle. Scholtz exposes all three stumps and looks to work it away on the leg side, but swings early. Luckily for him, the ball balloons over the sticks.

Going across off, on a good length. Zane smears this slower one through mid-wicket for a single.

Bumrah responds with a short ball, following the batter. Bernard gives himself room and mistimes the flat-batted shot to cover.

FOUR! Gets it away! Bumrah goes searching for another yorker, but it comes out as a low full toss, just outside the off pole. Fast hands from Bernard Scholtz as he slices it to the left of the man at backward point for a boundary.

The next batter is Bernard Scholtz.

OUT! BOWLED! Yorker nailed to absolute perfection by Jasprit Bumrah. Seam-up delivery at 89 mph, it lands in the region between the popping crease and the stumps. Ruben Trumpelmann backs away early. He fails to get his bat down in time and the ball scoots under his blade before crashing into the sticks.

Very full, in the blockhole, on middle. Zane jams it out in front of mid off and scampers through for a quick single. Jasprit Bumrah wants Rinku Singh to have a shy but he opts against it.

Hits the hard length, does Bumrah, on middle. Zane is hurried on the pull and he mistimes it to mid-wicket.

Skidding through, on a good length, Green backs away, stands tall on his toes and punches it on the up to cover.

Another swing and a miss! Shivam angles it into the pads, on a length. Trumpelmann does not pick the slower one from Dube and he is early into the swing. He fails to get it away and gets hit on the pads.

Pushes the length up, on off, Green forces the drive to long off for a single.

Shivam digs it in short, on off, Ruben swivels on the back foot for the pull but gets it high on the bat. The ball balloons and drops well in front of long on. Axar Patel does not commit himself to the catch as it was a Free Hit ball and collects it on the bounce. They cross.

NO BALL! Untidy from Dube. He has overstepped again. Very full but sliding down leg, Ruben misses out on the tickle. Free Hit to follow...

A polite enquiry for LBW but turned down! Hang on, India are going for the review. Almost an afterthought from the bowling side. Back-of-the-hand slower one, on a nagging length, on off and middle. Ruben hangs deep in the crease and has a big heave across the line but is undone by the slowness of the ball. The ball catches the batter high on the back thigh. UltraEdge shows no bat but the Ball Tracking has the ball going over the stumps.

Dube slams the deck and does not offer any pace, on off. Ruben swings with all his might and chops it down on the strip.

Wide! Dipping slower ball and it dips on the batter. The line is down leg and Ruben fails to get it away. Wide called but Dube does not seem happy with the call as he feels that the batter moved in the crease.

Ruben Trumpelmann misses out! Into the surface, over off and middle. Ruben does not pick the off-cutter and swings way too early. He ends up connecting with thin air and gets hit on the midriff.

NO BALL! Dube takes pace off first up, on a length, sprayed on the pads. Trumpelmann walks inside the line and has a big swing at it but fails to connect. The ball brushes the pads and goes behind to the keeper. Uh, oh, the siren goes off. Dube has overstepped. Free Hit coming up.

That's well bowled. Short ball, pace-on this time and angled across from leg stump. Zane Green leans back and looks to ramp but the ball whizzes past the outside edge.

Slower one, full and on middle, Green flicks it through mid-wicket and a fumble in the deep allows the batters to get back for the second run.

Slow and short, dug in outside off. Trumpelmann toe-ends the pull to mid-wicket and gets across to the other end.

Pitched up full and around leg, Zane Green clips it away wide of mid-wicket. The call is for two initially, but the batters settle for the single.

Banged in short around off, Trumpelmann gets on his toes and slaps it down like a tennis-forehand towards long on for a single.

Slower one from Pandya, on a good length and outside off. Trumpelmann has a swipe at it but seems to get an under edge on it. The ball dies on its way to the keeper.

DRINKS BREAK! What was a decent start to the chase for Namibia went downhill rather quickly once Varun Chakaravarthy was introduced into the attack. It is more about what the African side can take out of this remaining phase of the game than anything else. India will want to close this game out as efficiently as they can and not let any complacency creep in. Hardik Pandya to bowl after the break. He has been wicketless so far, conceding 15 runs in his 2 overs.

Nice and full at the stumps, patted down to long on for a single.

Chance of a run out, but Axar Patel fumbles the ball. A yorker from Bumrah, angled into the pads, Trumpelmann misses the flick, and the ball goes off the pads to point. Trumpelmann wanders down the pitch, but Green sends him back. Patel fails to pick up the ball, and if he had picked it, he could have run to the stumps himself and dislodged the bails. Trumpelmann was so far out.

Another slower one, on a length around middle and leg. Green works it 'round the corner on the leg side for a single.

Slower one, full and on off. Green does well to adjust and plays it back to the bowler.

Just back of a length, slanted into the body. Trumpelmann manages to tuck it away between mid-wicket and mid on for another single.

Good length on off, jammed into the deck by Bumrah. Green gets across a bit and tucks it through square leg for a single.

Swing and a miss! Flatter trajectory, on a good length and outside off. Ruben Trumpelmann presses back and swings across the line but the ball darts back in to beat the bat. That nearly goes on to hit the off stump as well.

Floated up on leg stump, Green eases it in front of wide mid on for a single.

Full and on the pads, Trumpelmann works it in front of square on the leg side for a single.

The wickets continue to tumble. Ruben Trumpelmann comes out to bat.

OUT! TAKEN! Jasprit Bumrah nearly messes up badly but a last-ditch effort turns it into a spectacular catch. Flighted ball from Axar Patel, slightly full and on off. Malan Kruger sits down to sweep but gets a top edge that goes high in the air. Bumrah at short fine leg runs to his left but stops a bit before realising the ball is swerving away from him. He lunges across with both hands and snaffles it at the last moment. Namibia slip further.

FOUR! Tossed up at the stumps, drifting in, Malan Kruger steps out and uses his wrists to heave it over wide mid on for a boundary.

An appeal for LBW, turned down. The keeper seems very interested but not the bowler. No review taken. Full and angled in from outside off, Kruger lunges across to sweep but misses and wears it on the front pad. The impact appeared to be slightly outside off.

Back of a length around off, doesn't rise much. Malan Kruger leans back and angles it down to deep third for a single. All about damage control now for Namibia, it seems.

Very full, around leg stump, angled in from wider of the crease. Kruger taps it across to mid-wicket.

Fuller this time, angled into the legs at 143.1 kph. Green clips it wide of mid on for a single.

A bumper now, bowled at a brisk pace and angled in from off stump. Zane Green sways his head away from the line of the ball.

Hard length, speared into the pads. Green gets pegged back as he looks to flick and wears it high on the pads.

Back of a length over middle, angling in, Zane Green hops back to defend.

A wicket-maiden for Axar Patel, excellent comeback over from him. Flighted fuller on middle, eased back to the bowler.

Full and on middle, driven back to the bowler.

This is darted in on a shortish length, Kruger taps it back to the bowler.

Fuller now, on middle, Malan Kruger leans on and eases it to mid on.

Flatter one, angled into middle and leg, tucked away to mid-wicket.

The crease has a new occupant in Malan Kruger.

OUT! CAUGHT! Another one bites the dust and Namibia are self-imploding a bit here and 86/2 has turned into 88/5 in a flash. Axar Patel floats the ball up, on a length and outside off. Gerhard Erasmus stays leg side of the ball, reaches for it and lofts it back over the bowler's head. Tilak Varma at long off, moves to his right and takes a simple catch.

Midway through the chase and the gap is widening between the two teams. India were 120/2, whereas Namibia are 88/4.

Full and attacking the front pad, on off, Gerhard Erasmus lunges and eases it to long off for a single.

Around off, on a length, Green knocks it through covers and opens his account with a single.

Varun Chakaravarthy is ripping through the Namibian batting lineup at the moment. Zane Green joins his skipper out in the middle now.

OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! An ungainly swipe across the line and JJ Smit pays the price. A two-ball duck for Smit. 3 wickets in 10 legal balls for Chakaravarthy. Googly from Varun, and he tosses this one up, but the length stays more on the shorter side, on off. Smit hangs deep in the crease before taking a step across the stumps. He has a big heave across the line, and the ball skids through to go under the blade and hit the stumps.

Quicker through the air, on the shorter side, on top of off. Smit gets on top of it and punches it to cover.

JJ Smit walks in at number 5.

OUT! TAKEN! Wickets off successive overs for Varun Chakaravarthy. Varun switches to around the wicket for the left-hander, outside off, flatter and shorter. Loftie-Eaton charges down the track but fails to get close to the ball. He still swings through and the ball is sliced off the outer half. It is skied towards wide long off, where Axar Patel runs across to his right and snaffles it. Namibia are now 86/3, needing 124 runs in 64 balls.

A bit more insight on that dead ball from Gerhard Erasmus provided by Ian Smith on air. He says that umpire Rod Tucker actually ruled out the delivery, not for being illegal but he felt that the batter wasn't ready. Sunil Gavaskar then mentions that the batter did attempt the shot, so it is what it is but in the end, the attempted delivery itself was a legal one from Erasmus.

Googly from Varun, on a nagging length, on middle. Erasmus backs away and slaps it to long on for one.

Flat and short, on off, Erasmus cuts it to the right of backward point and picks up a single.

Just short! Bowled by going a bit wide on the crease, on a nagging length, on middle. Gerhard walks inside the line of the ball to play the lap. It goes uppishly towards Bumrah, who opts not to dive and gets his body behind the ball to make the stop.

A few threads have come loose from the ball, and the umpire brings out the scissors to cut them away.

SIX! That sounded so sweet! Fuller and quicker, on off, Gerhard drops to a knee quickly and gets his hands through the ball to unleash the slog sweep over wide long on for a biggie.

Full and on off, Erasmus taps it to cover.

SIX! High and long enough! Coming in with the arm from around the wicket, on a length, on off and middle. Erasmus reaches out in front and gets low to find the elevation. Gets more height than distance on the slog sweep but there is no one at deep mid-wicket and he clears the fence.

A bit of air given by Axar, full and on middle, Loftie-Eaton pushes it to long on for a single.

A bit quicker this time and the length stays full, on off, Loftie-Eaton plays the reverse and hits it hard to backward point, where Jasprit Bumrah misfields and concedes a single.

Beaten! From around the wicket to the left-hander, full and outside off, Loftie-Eaton pushes away from his body but the ball sneaks past the outside edge. Ishan Kishan is quick to take the bails off but Jan Nicol's back leg was inside the crease.

Flighted delivery, full and on off, Gerhard Erasmus knocks it wide of cover and crosses over.

Almost chopped it back on! Skidding through, not that short for the cut and not that wide either. Around the off stump, Erasmus hangs back and goes for the cut. Gets an inside edge and the ball lands beside the leg pole before going behind for a couple of runs.

Another googly, fuller and on middle. Gerhard Erasmus picks it from the hand and gets forward in defence.

The next batter is the Namibian skipper, Gerhard Erasmus.

OUT! TIMBER! Louren Steenkamp does not pick the googly at all and sees his stumps shattered. Wrong 'un from Varun first up, on a length, on middle. Steenkamp does not move his feet at all and just pushes at the ball with his hands. The ball lands and spins back in to go past the inside edge. Louren leaves a yawning gap between the bat and the pad and the ball goes through the gate to crash into the sticks. The 34-run stand is broken.

Varun Chakaravarthy is now into the attack.

On a hard length, angled in, on middle. Loftie-Eaton waits back and taps it back on the deck with a straight bat. At the end of 7 overs, Namibia are 67/1, needing 143 runs in 78 balls.

Bumrah goes searching for the yorker but slips in a low full toss, on off. Loftie-Eaton extends his hands and punches it to the left of deep cover for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Off the edge! Off-cutter, on a nagging length, on off. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton hangs his bat out but the ball takes the outside edge and races fine of the man at deep third for a boundary.

A corker of a yorker from Bumrah! Right at the base of the off stump. Louren Steenkamp is beaten for pace and he fails to get his bat down in time. It clips the off stump before deflecting down to deep third. Louren is not alert to the situation and just stands his ground. He gets called through for a single by his partner and he crosses over.

NO BALL! A well-directed bumper from Bumrah but he has overstepped in the process. It sails over the right shoulder of Louren as he ducks under it. Free Hit coming up.

Very full, on off. Louren opens the bat face and angles it well but picks out the man at backward point.

Bumrah spots Loftie-Eaton backing away and he follows him with a hard-length delivery. Jan Nicol has a swing at it. It comes off the splice of the bat in front of mid off. Just a single.

Wide! Full and quick but down leg, Loftie-Eaton walks inside the line but he is beaten for pace, and he misses out on the glance.

DRINKS BREAK! 57/1 in the Powerplay for Namibia, not quite the 86/1 we saw from India, but the Rhinos do have a very decent platform to go on and make the hosts worry. Jan Frylinck played a few aggressive shots and picked up a few boundaries before getting out and now, Louren Steenkamp seems to be well-set at the crease. The challenge for Namibia now is that the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and the Indian spinners are yet to make an appearance and they will have to keep going no matter who the bowler is if they are to pick up a win. India will want to get a few wickets in the middle phase and get the game out of Namibia's reach. That said, Jasprit Bumrah does come on to bowl right after the Powerplay.

SIX! All the way! An ideal end to the Powerplay for Namibia. Arshdeep serves the short ball again, outside off. Steenkamp knows that backward point and third man are inside the circle. He arches back and uses the pace on the ball. He gets under the ball and glides it over backward point. The ball lands on the boundary cushions on the full. 17 runs off the final over of the Powerplay.

Arshdeep bends his back and digs it short, following the batter. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton gets his hands high and drags the pull in front of square for a run.

50 comes up for Namibia! Slower one, on a length, outside off, Steenkamp cuts it to deep point. Fastest fifty for Namibia in T20 World Cups, as informed by Sunil Gavaskar on air.

Quicker delivery and Arshdeep gets it high enough on the bumper, outside off. Steenkamp walks across the stumps and goes hard on the pull but the ball sails over his blade.

WIDE! Tries to keep it away from the batter but this is sprayed beyond the tramline. Louren Steenkamp lets it go.

FOUR MORE! Nothing streaky about this one! Arshdeep bashes the surface, around off. Louren picks the slower ball and waits on it. Slaps it with a horizontal bat over mid on for another boundary.

FOUR! Streaky, but they all count! Pace off, angled across off, on a length. Louren Steenkamp clears the front leg and looks to launch it down the ground. Gets a thickish outside edge that flies over short third for a four.

Slower and shorter over middle, swung away to deep mid-wicket for a single. A decent first over from Dube.

Full and wide outside off, Louren Steenkamp goes after it but ends up slicing it over extra cover for a couple of runs.

Good change-up from Dube. Slower delivery, on a hard length and outside off. Steenkamp has a poke at it but misses.

Oh, a direct hit and it would have been curtains for Loftie-Eaton. Full and outside off, Jan pre-meditates the scoop but adjusts and jams it down to short third for a single. His bat gets stuck in the turf but the throw at the bowler's end from Jasprit Bumrah is wide.

Tap and run! Shortish length around off, Steenkamp hangs back and just angles it down to backward point for a quick single.

Back of a length and outside off, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton stays on his toes, plays away from the body and gets it through cover-point for a single.

Will Hardik Pandya bowl three in a row? The answer is no. No spin just yet. Suryakumar Yadav turns to Shivam Dube.

Length ball outside off, tapped away behind point for a single.

Good-length delivery in the channel, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton plays it late and dabs it down behind point.

Namibia lose their first wicket. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton is in at number 3.

OUT! CAUGHT! The sound off the bat is good again but unfortunately for Jan Frylinck, the connection isn't all that good as the ball goes off the toe-end of the bat. Arshdeep Singh bowls another one that is short of a length and over off and middle, but it is the knuckle-ball. Frylinck leans back to pull and does so early and aerially. There is an extra fielder out in the deep on the leg side and Frylinck finds Shivam Dube at deep mid-wicket. Just when Jan was starting to look good, he is sent packing. 250th T20 wicket for Arshdeep.

FOUR! Namibia are starting to find their rhythm now. Shortish length over middle, Frylinck hangs back and pulls it hard and in front of mid-wicket for a boundary.

FOUR! Another attempted slower one from Arshdeep, and it comes out all wrong. This is a waist-height full toss, wide outside off. Jan Frylinck reaches out and toe-ends the lofted shot to the left of mid off. The ball hits the turf and rolls away into the fence.

WIDE! A slower bumper now, around off and this one lobs over the batter's head. Left alone for a wide.

Off-pace delivery from Arshdeep, short and wide outside off. Steenkamp reaches out and slaps it wide of deep point. Rinku Singh is quick across the turf and cuts it off, keeping it down to a single.

Shortish length on leg, Steenkamp turns it off the hips through backward square leg for another single. 13 off the over.

Oh, nearly gets chopped on! Hard length over off and middle, Frylinck backs away to cut but gets a bottom edge onto the deck. The batters manage to scamper through for a single as well.

SIX! Oh, the sweet sound when the ball made contact with the willow. Bowled back of a length by Pandya and angled into the batter, Jan Frylinck stays leg side of the ball and swings it baseball-style over deep mid-wicket for a 96-meter behemoth.

Good carry! On a good length in the channel, moves in the air a bit and goes through quickly. Frylinck plays a loose attempted drive but is well beaten.

FOUR! Solid hit! Pitched up, outside off, Jan Frylinck gets low and swats it back past the non-striker for a boundary.

Fuller in length on off, shapes away sharply. Steenkamp gets a thick outside edge as he looks to drive and gets it to short third. The slip fielder was just removed by Pandya and this would have gone to hands if a fielder was at first slip. A single is taken.

Around the wicket now to the right-hander. Shortish length around off, Steenkamp taps it into the off side and pinches an easy single. A steady start for Namibia but they need plenty of boundaries in the first 6 overs to stay in the game.

A low full toss, angling into the pads. Jan Frylinck gets low and flicks it aerially. The ball goes on the bounce to Rinku Singh at deep backward square leg and Frylinck gets a single.

Back of a length and around off, Steenkamp stands tall, rides the bounce and punches it down to covers for a single.

FOUR! Crunched! Fractionally short but wide outside off, Louren Steenkamp waits well and collapses the knees a bit before slapping it behind point for the first boundary of the chase.

A touch fuller, on middle again, pushed gently towards mid on for a quick single.

Good-length delivery, attacking the stumps. Frylinck looks to drive but the length isn't full enough and he jams it onto the deck.

Arshdeep Singh will operate from the other end.

Pitched up again, on off, patted on the up and to mid off for one. Just two singles off the first over of the chase.

Half an appeal for a caught behind. Hardik Pandya asks the keeper - 'Awaaz aaya tha?' Which means, did you hear a noise? There was a noise, certainly, but India didn't take the review. A well-directed short ball over middle, Jan Frylinck looks to pull but is hurried, and it seems that the ball just brushed the helmet on its way to Ishan Kishan.

A good-looking shot but for no run. Pitched up, full and outside off, swings back in. Frylinck goes on one knee and smacks it straight to cover.

This time goes the other way. Subtle change in the wrist-action from Hardik and this length ball is darted well across the left-hander. Frylinck reaches out but is beaten by the movement on the ball and the low bounce as well.

A hint of shape on offer. Hard length around the top of off, shapes back into the left-hander. Jan Frylinck hops back and jams it down the pitch.

Off the mark straightaway. Shortish length from Pandya to begin with, at the body and Louren Steenkamp tucks it down to the right of mid-wicket for a single.

OUT! ARSHDEEP SINGH IS RUN OUT! The batters simply had to go for the second run, as it was the last delivery of the innings but Namibia managed to get another wicket. JJ Smit bowls another yorker, angling it in at the toes. Singh gets the front pad out of the way and jams it down through square leg. Malan Kruger tidies up in the deep and fires in a perfect throw at the keeper's end. Zane Green dislodges the bails with Arshdeep Singh not even in the frame. India finish with 209/9 on the board!

Run out on the last ball! Or is it? Yep, Arshdeep Singh is short of his ground.

A low full toss, wide outside off, Varun Chakaravarthy gets across and powers it to the right of long off. Gerhard Erasmus is quick to cut it off and keeps it down to a single.

Another yorker at the toes, Arshdeep Singh looks to swing it away but gets an inside-edge onto the pads. The batters scamper through for a single.

One Singh replaces the other. Here's Arshdeep Singh.

OUT! CAUGHT! Namibia are finishing strongly here and JJ Smit gets a well-deserved wicket here. The pacer sticks to the fuller delivery and bowls it at the stumps. Rinku Singh tries to charge forward and loft it away but gets too close to the pitch of the ball and is unable to generate much power. Rinku hits it straight down the throat of the long-on fielder, where Gerhard Erasmus takes a simple catch. You cannot keep him out of the game at the moment, and India have now lost 4 wickets for one run.

No run taken and that is expected at this stage. A low full toss on middle and leg, Rinku Singh sweeps it towards deep square leg and keeps strike.

Immaculate length again from JJ Smit. Full and in the blockhole, angled into the batter. Rinku Singh makes room and jams it to cover.

The new batter is Varun Chakaravarthy.

OUT! CASTLED! Gerhard Erasmus, you beauty. Make that four wickets for the Namibian skipper. It is all going pear-shaped at the back end for India. Erasmus bowls it with a round-arm action and releases by getting low. On a length, angled in at the sticks. The ball does not rise at all and Axar has a swing across the line. It sneaks under the blade and crashes into the stumps. A golden duck for Axar. A sheepish smile on the face of Erasmus. Three wickets in the over and India are now 206/7 after being 199/4 at the start of the over.

Full and on off, Rinku thumps it down to long on and crosses over.

Just in! Bowled by going wide of the crease and by getting low. Full and flirting with the tramline. Rinku lets it be, thinking it will be called wide but the umpire is happy with it.

Two in two for Namibia. Axar Patel makes his way out to the centre.

OUT! SHIVAM DUBE IS RUN OUT! They say never run on a misfield but Rinku Singh has sold Shivam Dube down the river here. Gerhard Erasmus brings out the round-armer and bowls it a tad short outside off. Rinku Singh reaches out to cut but smacks it down to cover. Ben Shikongo gets a bad bounce and parries it in front of himself. Dube sets off for the single and Rinku responds as well, but Shikongo is quick to scamper back to the ball and Rinku changes his mind. It is too late as Dube is almost at the striker's end. The throw is lobbed back to Erasmus, who knocks over the bails with a smile on his face.

Rinku Singh walks in.

OUT! TAKEN IN THE DEEP! That is a sensational effort from the substitute fielder and Gerhard Erasmus will feel he's got away with one here. Full and fired towards the stumps, Hardik Pandya slogs it flat and hard behind square leg. Dylan Leicher runs across the length of the fence to his right and pouches it brilliantly. He is able to keep his composure by tossing the ball back up as he runs over the ropes and runs back inside the ropes to pouch it again. The third umpire deems it fair and Hardik is already near the exit door. India are 205/5 as Pandya's fine knock comes to an end.

Excellent catch in the deep by the sub fielder, Dylan Leicher. The umpires have sent it upstairs for a check.

SIX! That's gone deep into the stands and Hardik Pandya brings up his third T20 World Cup FIFTY. Flatter one, angled across the middle and leg. Hardik Pandya goes deep in the crease and swings it handsomely over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. The 200 is also up for India with that sizzling shot.

15 runs off the last 2 overs. Namibia will take that at any stage of the game, especially at the death. Can they close this out strongly? Gerhard Erasmus has taken it upon himself to bowl the 19th over.

Smit errs on the fuller side and serves a low full toss outside off. Pandya hangs back and laces it flat but straight to long off for a single. 9 runs off the over.

Full and straight, angled into the toes, heaved down to long on for a single.

FOUR! Oh, it deserved a better fielding effort, perhaps. Wide yorker now, in the blockhole as well but Shivam Dube shows he's not all about power. He waits back and angles it through the gap between backward point and short third for a boundary.

Doesn't carry! Another full delivery, bowled well wide of the off stump line. Hardik Pandya nearly falls over as he reaches for it and powers it on the bounce to deep cover for a single.

Another yorker from Smit, and right on the money as well. Bowled at just 121.7 kph, but right at the toes. Dube gets the front leg out of the way and jams it to mid on for one more.

A wide yorker, nailed to perfection. Pandya squeezes it to deep point and picks up a single.

Superb execution from Ruben Trumpelmann. One left-arm seamer replaces the other. JJ Smit (2-0-38-0) is back.

Brilliant over, five singles and a leg bye off it. Fuller to Pandya this time, around off stump. Hardik leans on and toe-ends the drive through mid off for a single. India are 190/4 with 3 overs to go.

In the blockhole, a bit closer to the off stump. Shivam Dube digs it out firmly down to long off and picks up one more.

This is good bowling from Trumpelmann. Length ball, darted in towards the pads, shaping in a bit. Pandya gets inside the line to flick but gets a thud on the pads. The ball rolls away to the leg side and they get a leg bye.

Full and wide again to Dube. Trumpelmann lands it perfectly on the tramline, Dube jams it down through cover-point for one more.

A bit fuller and jammed in at the pads, Pandya miscues the whip and gets it through square leg for a single.

The plan nearly comes off for Namibia. Back of a length and wide outside off, Shivam Dube reaches for it and slices it on the bounce to the onrushing deep point fielder for a single.

Ruben Trumpelmann returns. He will bowl out now. 3-0-33-0 so far for the left-arm speedster.

FOUR! Not a bad ball, but that's been put away as well. Full and wide outside off, in the blockhole. Pandya drills the drive through cover-point, and the ball rolls away to the fence. The replays show that Hardik pats the bowler on the shoulder. Nothing much wrong with that delivery, just the sheer class of the batter. 16 off the over, 40 off the last 2 overs.

FOUR! The bowler was ducking for cover! Very full and outside off, Ben misses the yorker length by a few inches. Hardik Pandya stands past the off-stump line and drills it flat back over the bowler's head for a boundary again. This is a tremendous field awareness, along with fierce striking.

SIX! Launched over the ropes and up comes the 50-run stand between these two. Slightly overpitched and outside off, Pandya hangs deep and pummels it straight back over the bowler's head for a biggie.

Another wide delivery, slower and ends up being a low full toss. Dube taps it wide of point for a single.

In the air but will land well short. Pitched up, full and outside off, Pandya lines it up and hammers it flat down to long off for just a single.

Full and wide outside off, Hardik Pandya drills the drive straight to the cover fielder.

Spears in a full ball, outside off, this is hit down to long off for one. 24 runs off the over!

FOUR! That should have been stopped. Full and near the tramline, Hardik makes contact and slaps it to cover, where the fielder dives over the ball and lets it through. It speeds away to the fence in no time. After a brief quiet period, India are roaring again.

Well bowled! Gets in the wide yorker, outside off, Pandya tries to squeeze it out but misses.

SIX! Clean strike! Fuller and wider, on off, Hardik reaches out by extending his hands and clobbers it over wide long off for a six. That just kept travelling into the crowd. Hardik is in the mood this evening.

Near the tramline on off, full in length. Shivam pats it through covers for a single.

FIVE WIDES! The idea was right, but the execution was not so much. Attempts the yorker but slips it down leg, Dube misses out on the tickle and the keeper, Zane Green, stands no chance. He is beaten to his right, and the ball races away.

SIX! Deposited on the second tier! Bernard drags it down, on off. Dube stays back and swivels. Nails the pull way over deep mid-wicket for probably the biggest hit of the night.

Wide! Bernard Scholtz tries to keep it away from the batter's arc, but it goes well beyond the tramline. Shivam offers no shot.

DRINKS BREAK! A brilliant passage of play for Namibia in the middle overs but India still have plenty of batting in the sheds. 200 seems like a certainty right now but Namibia will be looking to restrict India to as low a total as possible. If the duo of Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube cut loose, it could be trouble for the Namibian pacers at the death, as their spinners are the ones who have done the damage so far. Let's see if Namibia can do a bit more damage heading into the death overs or not.

FOUR! Beautiful! A boundary off the final ball spoils the over from Namibia's perspective. A bit too full from Trumpelmann, outside off, Hardik just leans into the drive and cracks it between cover and mid off for a boundary. Two successive 10-run overs for India.

Hard-length delivery, on off, Shivam hangs on the back foot, gets his hands high and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one more.

Running across the batter, on a short of a length. Hardik angles it behind point and gets to the other end.

Wide! Looks to get the yorker in, does Ruben. Ends up serving a low full toss, well beyond the tramline. Hardik lets it be.

Into the wicket, on off, Dube swivels and swings hard on the pull. Drags it off the inner half to deep mid-wicket for one.

In the channel, on a short of a length. Shivam chops it to backward point.

Ruben Trumpelmann returns to the attack. He starts with a full ball, on middle and leg. Dube clips it off the pads between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg. Dube comes charging back for the second and makes it home before the throw arrives.

Fullish ball, on middle. Shivam wrists it through mid-wicket and picks up a single. 10 runs off the over!

On a length, around off, Hardik plays a punchy drive to long off and turns the strike over.

SIX! First boundary in 18 balls for India. Sliding on with the arm, on a length, on middle. Pandya clears the front leg and swings through the line. Deposits it with ease over long on for a biggie.

Darted in, flat and short, on middle. Hardik punches it on the bounce towards the bowler. A half-stop from Bernard Scholtz and the ball rolls behind but they do not run.

Full and around off, eased to long off for a single by Dube to get off the mark.

Full and on off, Hardik plays it to long off for one.

A bit of fun out there in the middle and the Namibian skipper is really enjoying the challenge. A low full toss around middle, Dube pushes it down to the left of the bowler. Erasmus dives across and gets tangled with the non-striker. Pandya ends up falling on Erasmus, who tries to lift him like in the gym but Pandya shrugs him off and the two of them punch hands.

As the discussion regarding Gerhard Erasmus' bowling rages on in the broadcaster's box, he picks up another wicket. India lose their fourth. Shivam Dube walks out to bat at number 6.

OUT! CAUGHT! Tilak Varma falls now. Wicket number 2 for Gerhard Erasmus. Floated up, full and on off. This is bowled from behind the stumps, but whilst being in front of the umpire. Tilak shimmies down the pitch and looks to go down the ground with a straight bat. He gets it back over the bowler's head, but it is not wide enough of the man at long off. JJ Smit runs to his left in front of the ropes and stays side-on. Takes the catch around his chest and does well to stay away from the boundary cushions. This is turning out to be a good phase in the game for Namibia. From 104/1, India are now 124/4.

Quicker through the air, fuller and on off, Varma pushes it to cover.

This is bowled by going low, fuller and on middle. Tilak presses forward for the block. Gets an inside edge on the front pad.

Very full, fired in, on off and middle. Hardik hurriedly drops his bat down on the ball. Squeezes it out to long off for one.

Bowled from a round-arm action and by going wide of the crease. Short and on the pads, Varma tucks it in front of square on the leg side for a single.

Terrific over from Bernard Scholtz, two runs and a wicket off it. Fuller and angled into the legs again, Pandya clips it to mid-wicket again.

Quicker one, fired in at the pads at 91.5 kph. Pandya flicks it straight to mid-wicket.

Dragged length around off, sits up a bit. Tilak Varma presses back and jabs it through mid on for another single.

A bit fuller and around off, Pandya squeezes it away in front of point and gets off the mark with a single.

The in-drifter from Scholtz, just straightens a touch. Hardik Pandya blocks it right under the eyes.

The next batter is Hardik Pandya.

OUT! STUMPED! Bernard Scholtz gets the prized scalp of the Indian skipper. On a nagging length, on off and middle from around the wicket. Suryakumar Yadav premeditates as he dances down the track. Opens up the front hip to go inside out over covers. He is nowhere near the pitch of the ball but still goes through with the swing. The ball lands and rips past the outside edge. The keeper, Zane Green, collects and whips the bails off. SKY turned around and tried to get back in but Green was quick enough.

Another round-armer, fired well across SKY. Yadav reaches out to cut and gets an outside edge. It goes off the keeper's pads and rolls to short third. They get a single. India are 120/2 after the first 10 overs.

No wide given and Yadav is not impressed. Round-arm delivery from Erasmus, fired well across the right-hander. Yadav reaches to cut but the ball stays low and beats the bat.

SIX! A boundary after 16 balls. Fuller and angled just across off, Suryakumar Yadav shuffles to the off side, gets inside the line and flicks the sweep to the right of deep backward square leg. Ruben Trumpelmann runs across but the ball just sails over the fence.

Good length on off, sliding on, Varma punches it down to long off and turns the strike over.

Fuller and on leg stump, driven firmly down to long on for a single.

Darted in on the pads at 88 kph, Yadav tucks it to square leg. Dot ball.

WIDE! Flatter one, fired across the right-hander from around the wicket, with a slingy action. Too wide for the umpire's liking.

Excellent work in the deep but that should have been two. Floated up outside off, SKY lunges across and sweeps it over short fine leg. Ben Shikongo at deep backward square leg sprints to his right and cuts it off. Just a single.

Flatter and outside off, Varma cuts it down on one knee and in front of point for a single.

No timing on it! Drifted into the batter, SKY shimmies down the pitch and plays the lofted drive on the bounce to wide long off. Another single.

Dragged length outside off, gently turns in a bit. Varma wrists it between mid on and mid-wicket for one more.

A bit fuller and outside off, Suryakumar Yadav lunges across and drives it through covers for a single.

Length ball, in line with the stumps and straightens a bit. Yadav blocks it down the track.

Tossed up outside off, Varma reaches out and smacks it straight to cover-point. Just a single and a massive wicket off that over from Gerhard Erasmus.

What happened there? We have seen bowlers bowling from well behind the crease, and Gerhard Erasmus tried something similar. However, it was immediately called a dead ball by Rod Tucker, who is standing at the bowling end. By the looks of it, Tucker wants Erasmus positioned in front of him while delivering the ball. The replays, though, show that Erasmus released the ball while being in front of the umpire.

Fullish length on off, skids through quickly. Tilak Varma blocks it off.

Flatter delivery on the pads, Yadav flicks it through square leg and picks up a single.

Nagging length outside off, SKY lunges across to sweep it fine but the fielder at backward square leg makes a good stop.

Flatter one at the stumps, Suryakumar Yadav looks to whip it away but gets an inside edge onto the pads.

End of the fireworks from Ishan Kishan. In walks the Indian skipper, Suryakumar Yadav. Just after the wicket fell, Gerhard Erasmus gathered his men for a quick chat.

OUT! TAKEN! Finally, some respite for Namibia and it is the skipper who comes up trumps for them. Gerhard Erasmus starts with a shortish ball around off and it is there to be put away. Ishan Kishan goes deep in the crease and ends up shovelling the pull shot flat towards deep mid-wicket. Ben Shikongo dives forward and clings to the catch. A fiery knock from Kishan comes to an end and the 79-run stand off only 31 balls is broken.

Full and on off, driven to long off for a single.

FOUR! Fastest team hundred in Men's T20 World Cup history, as mentioned on-air by Ian Smith. Off-pace, a bit short and on middle and leg. Kishan rolls his wrists over the ball and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary.

SIX! Ishan Kishan piles on the misery. Dug in a bit short and angled into the batter, trying to tuck him up. Kishan just gets inside the line and heaves it high and long over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

DROPPED! Oh, no! What a golden opportunity for Namibia and that could be a huge miss. Back of a length and shaping away from the left-hander. Tilak Varma throws his hands at it and miscues it straight to the point fielder. Louren Steenkamp spills it and the batters cross for a single. Namibia simply cannot afford any lapses in the field.

Shorter one, angled in from around off, Varma gets on top of the bounce and pulls it down wide of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Oh, that's unlucky for the bowler. Short of a good length, outside off. Varma looks to play away from the body and chops it down past the stumps and the ball rolls into the fine leg fence.

DRINKS BREAK! We are done with the Powerplay, and it is already looking ominous for Namibia. It has largely been down to the Namibian bowlers missing their lengths, and the Indian batters have been quick to cash in. Ian Smith informs on air that 86 runs scored by India in the Powerplay is the highest for any team in this World Cup. Namibia will hope to wrest back some control through the middle phase with field restrictions now lifted.

FOUR! Ishan Kishan brings up his FIFTY in 20 balls. The pocket rocket has been on a rampage tonight. Shorter but too straight from Smit, Kishan hangs back and forces the pull to the right of deep backward square leg for a boundary. India are 86/1 at the end of 6 overs.

SIX! FOUR IN A ROW! Back of a length, slanted into the batter, Kishan gets inside the line again and pulls it flat and just over the leaping fielder at deep backward square leg for another biggie. 24 off the over with one ball to go.

SIX! Make it a hat-trick of sixes and the 50-run stand is up between these two. Smit brings the keeper up to the stumps and bowls it full on middle, Kishan doesn't get bothered and steps out again, smacking it back over the bowler's head for another six.

SIX MORE! Smit pulls the length back a bit and bowls it on middle. Kishan steps down the pitch, swings through the line and the follow-through is perfect. He ends up dispatching the ball into the sight screen for another biggie.

SIX! Up and away! Poor line from Smit, fuller and angling into the pads. Ishan Kishan plants his front leg across, uses the angle of the ball and hoicks it on one knee over deep backward square leg for a maximum.

Good length, slightly outside off, Kishan waits back and angles it to the right of backward point but can't get it through the infield.

JJ Smit switches ends now, replacing Ben Shikongo. There is a slight pause in play. Ishan Kishan is unhappy with the toe end of the bat and it seems like he has chipped it a bit. He is calling for a change of bat now.

Around the off stump, on a back of a length. Tilak stabs it down on the off side. 15 from the over, India are marching!

FOUR! Up and over! Full again, outside off, Tilak shimmies down the pitch and stays leg side of the ball to get his hands through the ball. Slams it over covers and picks up a boundary.

Full and on off, Tilak firms the drive to extra cover, where the fielder dives to his left but fails to make a clean stop. It allows the batters to run one more.

FOUR! Trumpelmann errs for the second time in 3 balls and pays the price. Cross-seam delivery, full and on the pads. Tilak glances it fine of the short fine leg fielder for a four. 50 comes up for India.

A bit more effort behind this ball from Trumpelmann. Bashes the hard length, on off. Ishan runs it down to deep third with an open bat face and turns the strike over.

FOUR! Put away with ease! Trumpelmann sprays a full ball on the pads. Ishan gets low and swats it between short fine leg and deep square leg for a boundary.

Ruben Trumpelmann returns to the attack, replacing JJ Smit. He went for 8 runs in his first over.

Back to around the wicket, fuller and on middle. Kishan has a big heave across the line but gets it off the inner half. It goes through mid-wicket and towards the deep fielder for a run.

Shikongo switches to over the wicket and this goes across off, on the back of a length. Ishan tries to cash in on the width but swings too hard. He loses his shape and ends up chopping it down on the deck off an inside edge.

Full and on middle, Varma knocks it to the right of mid on and crosses over.

Better line but still a bit too full, on middle. Ishan drills it to the right of mid on, where the fielder slides to his right and the ball gets parried off his knees towards the mid off fielder. The single was on anyway and the batters completed it.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Ben Shikongo errs in both line and length. Too full, too straight, on the pads. Ishan needs no second invitation as he plays the pick-up shot over mid-wicket and collects a boundary.

Had to hurry! Moving away in the air, on a length, outside off, Tilak steers it to short third. A bit of hesitation but the batters eventually go through for the single. The short third fielder has a shy at the batting end but misses. It would have been interesting had the throw hit the stumps.

Ben Shikongo to continue...

Given LBW but successfully overturned! Slanting in, on the fuller side, on the middle and leg. Kishan crouches slightly and has a swipe across the line. Gets hit on the pads and Namibia go up in unison. The finger goes up but Ishan is quick to take the review. There were two sounds, and UltraEdge confirms that the ball grazed the toe end of the blade before hitting the pads.

An immediate review! The bowler appeals for LBW and the umpire raises his finger. Ishan Kishan signals for the review right away. A quick check for the third umpire as UltraEdge shows a big spike as the ball passes the toe end of the bat. NOT OUT!

FOUR! Absolutely hammered! Not all that short but enough for Kishan to play the pull. This is around off, scrambled seam delivery, Ishan gets on top of it and swats it between mid-wicket and mid on for four more.

FOUR! Lovely shot! Smit serves it full, on middle with the keeper up to the stumps. Kishan presents the full face of the bat and creams the drive to the right of mid on for a boundary.

Edgy! Smit keeps it in and around the top of off, Varma gets on his toes and tries to clip it away on the leg side with a closed bat face. The ball nips away a touch to catch the leading edge. It goes along the ground and behind point. Tilak is off the mark with this streaky single.

Angled into the left-hander, on a back of a length. Tilak gets right behind it and stabs it down on the leg side.

On a back of a length, on off, Kishan angles it behind point and crosses over.

Deafening silence inside the stadium as Sanju Samson throws away another golden opportunity and the Namibian supporters rejoice. Tilak Varma walks in at number 3 for India. A bowling change as well as JJ Smit replaces Ruben Trumpelmann.

OUT! CAUGHT! A real soft dismissal, and after being hit for a couple of sixes and a four, Ben Shikongo has the last laugh. Shikongo rolls the fingers down the side of the ball, full and at the sticks. Samson plays the flick half-heartedly and does not go through with the shot. Spoons it straight down the throat of the man at deep mid-wicket. Louren Steenkamp is a few yards in off the ropes, and he makes no mistake. Samson fails to make the opportunity count and he departs after a quickfire knock.

FOUR! Nicely done! On a good length, outside off, Samson stays leg side of the ball and extends his hands for the lofted drive over cover for a four.

SIX! Sanju Samson is dealing in sixes. This is even bigger. Curving back in again but the line is too straight and it is neither full nor short. Samson picks it up off the pads and parks it way over deep backward square leg for six more. 3 balls, 3 sixes for Sanju.

SIX! Picked up, and it goes into the crowd! Suryakumar Yadav enjoyed that shot. Shaping back into the right-hander, on a short of a length, on middle. It sits up to be hit and Sanju whips it over backward square leg for a six.

In the channel, fractionally short, Kishan stands tall and slaps it to deep point, where Ruben Trumpelmann tidies up. They cross.

A hint of away shape for Shikongo, full and outside off, Ishan firms the drive to cover.

Punches thrown by both teams in the first over of the game. Some tidy bowling and one fine shot from Samson to end the over. It will be Ben Shikongo to bowl from the other end.

SIX! An easy swing of the arms, and Sanju Samson is away! Angling across off, on a length. Samson is not entirely to the pitch of the ball but he swings through with a high elbow and tonks it towards the sight screen with a straight bat for a six.

Half a shout for LBW but it dies down quickly! A bit of shape back into the right-hander, on a length, on middle and leg. Samson is rapped on the pads while attempting the flick. There were two sounds and there might have been an inside edge.

A play and a miss! Another good-length delivery, running across the batter. No feet movement from Samson and he just fiddles with the ball. He is lucky not to nick this one behind.

At 140 kph, pushed across the right-hander, fuller than the previous ball. Samson punches it on the up to mid off.

Angled in at the hips, on a back of a length. Kishan turns it behind square leg and gets off the mark with a single.

Much better from Trumpelmann! Closer to the off stump, on a good length. The ball kicks up a bit that catches Ishan by surprise. He fends it down to backward point.

Wide! A bit short and shaping beyond the tramline on off. Kishan thinks about going after it before bailing out of the shot. India are on the board with this extra.

Done and dusted with the pre-match proceedings and it is now time to play. The umpires are out in the middle and so are the players of Namibia. The duo of Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan strides out to open the innings for India. Ravi Shastri on-air mentions that Samson is on T20 World Cup debut! The Namibian skipper, Gerhard Erasmus, has the ball in hand and is ready to hand it over to Ruben Trumpelmann, who will get proceedings underway with the ball. Kishan will take strike first up and there's a slip in place to begin with. Let's play...

Time for the anthems - We are just a few minutes away from the start of the match and as usual, there is a sea of 'light' blue in the crowd but there are a few Namibian supporters as well. The officials are out in the middle and so are the two sets of players, who, along with their mascots, line up for the national anthems. It will be the national anthem of Namibia first, followed by that of India.

Namibia (Playing XI) - Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (C), JJ Smit, Zane Green (WK), Ruben Trumpelmann, Malan Kruger (In for Dylan Leicher), Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo (In for Willem Myburgh), Max Heingo.

India (Playing XI) - Sanju Samson (In for Abhishek Sharma), Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah (In for Mohammed Siraj).

The skipper of India - Suryakumar Yadav says that he would have batted first and is happy with the toss outcome. Adds that as long as they win the game, he has no complaints with losing the toss. Mentions that in a big tournament like this, they know dew is expected to play a big role, but he believes that batting first gives them the confidence they need to go out and defend the total. Informs that Abhishek Sharma is still unwell and he might need a game or two to recover. Sanju Samson replaces him, and Mohammed Siraj makes way for Jasprit Bumrah.

The captain of Namibia - Gerhard Erasmus says that the surface looks flat, and from the statistics and the dew point of view, bowling first is the way to go. Adds that they need to hit their straps with the ball and build some solid stands with the bat. Mentions that they play cricket for these big moments and the excitement. Informs that they have a couple of changes with the extra seamer coming in, and there's also one change in the batting department.

TOSS - Time for the coin to go up in Delhi. Suryakumar Yadav and Gerhard Erasmus have made their way out to the centre. With Suryakumar being the home captain, he will give the coin a flick. Erasmus calls it correctly. Namibia have elected to BOWL first.

PITCH REPORT - Former Kiwi wicket-keeper Ian Smith is inspecting the deck. He starts by saying that there is a slight bias on one side of the square. On one side, it is 59 meters, and on the other, it is 66 meters, and the straight hit is 73 meters, but by a modern batter's standards, those are still quite small. Former English batter Nick Knight joins him and starts by saying that the pitch looks flat and there is a nice sheen on it. Reckons the bounce won't be as true, but the ball will come onto the bat nicely. Adds that there will be a fair bit of turn, and there are a few cracks on it, but those aren't going to open up. Smith ends by saying that dew might be a factor as well.

Conditions check - This will be the first night game of the World Cup at this venue. So far, only one match has been played here in the tournament, an 11 am start involving Namibia and the Netherlands, where the Dutch came out on top. The last time India played a T20I in Delhi, they piled up 221 against Bangladesh, the highest team total recorded in a T20I at this venue. Stay tuned for the toss and team news.

Doing it the Namibian way - 'We will just rock up and do it our Namibian way, which is to fight.' These were the words from the Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus after missing out on the opportunity to train under lights in Delhi in the lead-up to this game. Playing under lights is not something they are used to back home, and it will present a different kind of challenge. If this tournament has shown anything so far, it is that no team can be taken lightly. Namibia boast the highest win percentage among Associate nations against Full Member teams in T20Is, winning 42 per cent of such matches when considering contests involving 10 or more games.

India's tryst with injuries - India's camp has been hit by injuries, and it feels eerily similar to the last home World Cup in 2023. It took a rescue act from Suryakumar Yadav to guide India out of a tricky situation against the USA. On that night, the Indian skipper also reached a significant milestone, winning his 17th Player of the Match award in T20Is for India. That took him past Virat Kohli, who had 16, meaning SKY now holds the record for the most Player of the Match awards in T20Is for India.

Delhi in focus - In the nation's capital, the defending champions India are set to take on Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The tournament co-hosts will aim to build on their opening win and gather momentum early in the tournament. Namibia, on the other hand, have started the tournament with a defeat, but they arrive here with belief and nothing to lose, a combination that can be dangerous in tournament cricket.

Azzurri script history - Before we shift attention to Delhi, we have to pause and reflect on what has transpired in Mumbai. After the spirited display Nepal produced against England just days ago, where they nearly pulled off an upset, Rohit Paudel and his side were left stunned by a fearless Italian outfit. Despite being without their inspirational leader, Wayne Madsen, Italy were ready for the fight from ball one, whether with the ball in hand or in the field. After bowling Nepal out for 123, the Mosca brothers, Justin and Anthony, stitched together an unbeaten opening stand that took the tournament debutants to their first-ever win in World Cup history. Italy romped home in 12.4 overs, and by doing so, they have given their net run rate a healthy boost. They have overtaken England and now sit third in Group C.

... MATCH DAY ...

The Capital lights up - New Delhi will be in action once again as the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2026, continues its non-stop journey. In an exciting Group A clash, the hosts India, will go up against Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in the 18th match of the tournament. As hosts, the Indians will be playing at all the venues, whereas the Namibians will play their second consecutive game at the same ground before they start hopping across cities. As things stand - Group A is shaping up to be an exciting one. With Pakistan winning two in two, they are at the top right now. Whereas India are second, and if they win this one, it will take them to the top spot and make their case almost confirmed for the Super 8s. The only other team that has put on a decent showing is the Netherlands, who are third currently. Namibia are coming off a stinging defeat to the Dutch, while the Americans have done well in patches, and have had two disappointing defeats, as their campaign is already looking in trouble. A wake-up call - There is no cent of doubt that the Indians will enter this clash as the firm favorites against Namibia. But after what the USA put them through, nothing can be taken for granted, not even against an associate nation. The top order crumbled to 77 for 6, with the big names back in the hut far too early. It took a Suryakumar Yadav special to drag them out of trouble, and their bowlers did the rest. Had either of those things not happened, India would have been staring at one of their most embarrassing results in recent memory. India sweat over key players - India would want to put this one to bed in a far more clinical fashion. With a marquee clash against Pakistan just around the corner, the last thing they need is another nervy, scrambling performance going into the biggest game of the group stage. However, with Abhishek Sharma, their star opener, hospitalized due to a stomach infection, and Washington Sundar still nursing his side tear, India are likely to make certain tweaks in the XI. Sanju Samson gets another opportunity if Abhishek doesn't recover in time, though the Kerala batter will be desperate to make it count after a difficult run that saw him lose his spot to Ishan Kishan. On the brighter side, Jasprit Bumrah looks set to return after missing the opener through illness. That's massive. When he plays, India's bowling attack looks completely different, forming a deadly trio with Arshdeep and Siraj, who has been absolutely clinical so far. Varun Chakaravarthy leads India's wicket-taking charts since the last T20 World Cup and will be expected to be at his best again, with Axar Patel sitting third on that same list after Arshdeep. Namibia aim for a united performance - Namibia's batting fell apart like a house of cards against the Netherlands after a promising start, and their middle order will need to show far more grit and substance against an even stronger opposition. The cream of their batting lies in the top five though. Captain Gerhard Erasmus leads their run-scoring charts since the last edition, with Jan Frylinck, JJ Smit and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton following closely behind. If those four fire, Namibia at least have a fighting chance. Namibia haven't had much exposure against top-ranked T20I sides, to be fair to them. But they can draw some inspiration from their recent win against South Africa in a one-off game, albeit with the Proteas fielding a second-string side. A win is a win, and that belief counts for something. In T20 World Cups, their record reads 11 defeats and just 5 wins, which isn't pretty. But among those wins sits a famous victory over a full-strength Sri Lanka back in 2022, which tells you they are more than capable of causing an upset when the conditions are right and everything clicks.  Recent form (Last 5 T20Is, recent first) - India - WWLWW | Namibia - WWLWL. Numbers crunching - 1. India and Namibia have met just once in T20Is, and that meeting dates back in the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup, where India executed a comfortable win in what was one of their most underwhelming campaigns in the history of this competition. 2. At Arun Jaitley Stadium, India have played four T20Is, and have batted first every time, winning two and losing two matches. And on three occasions, they have breached the 200-run mark, where they lost a game against South Africa, failing to defend 211 runs. 3. Overall, out of nine games, the chasing side has won five times, with the team batting first winning on four occasions, making it quite a balanced one. 4. Namibia have lost four of their last five T20 World Cup matches. They tied a game against Oman in the previous World Cup and emerged victorious in the end via Super Over.