New Delhi, February 12, 2026 –India vs Namibia:India’s preparations for the T20 World Cup reached a crescendo as they dismantled Namibia in a one-sided warm-up encounter. While the scoreboard read “India” for the senior team, the match featured a blend of experienced superstars like Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah alongside emerging talents, proving that the defending champions are ready for any challenge.
India vs Namibia Match Overview: A Tale of Two Halves
Winning the toss and electing to bat, India got off to a flyer thanks to Ishan Kishan, who channeled his inner “pocket dynamo” to smash 61 off just 24 balls. India crossed the 100-run mark in the 7th over, looking poised for a 230+ total. However, Namibia’s captain Gerhard Erasmus staged a heroic fightback, taking 4 wickets for 20 runs, including a triple-strike in the final over that restricted India to 209/9.
In reply, Namibia’s chase was stifled from the outset. Arshdeep Singh provided the early breakthrough, and the introduction of Varun Chakaravarthy’s “mystery spin” effectively ended the contest. Chakaravarthy’s three-wicket burst left Namibia reeling at 57/4, and despite a gritty middle-order resistance, Hardik Pandya cleaned up the tail to bowl Namibia out for 116 in 18.2 overs.
Match Scorecard: Detailed Statistics
1st Innings: India Batting
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Sanju Samson | c & b Ruben Trumpelmann | 22 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 157.14 |
| Ishan Kishan (wk) | c Gerhard Erasmus b JJ Smit | 61 | 24 | 5 | 6 | 254.17 |
| Tilak Varma | b Gerhard Erasmus | 25 | 18 | 3 | 1 | 138.89 |
| Suryakumar Yadav (c) | c Zane Green b Bernard Scholtz | 18 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Hardik Pandya | c Malan Kruger b G. Erasmus | 52 | 28 | 4 | 4 | 185.71 |
| Shivam Dube | c Ben Shikongo b G. Erasmus | 23 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 143.75 |
| Rinku Singh | c Louren Steenkamp b G. Erasmus | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Axar Patel | b Ruben Trumpelmann | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Arshdeep Singh | not out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | run out (Zane Green) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | not out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | (lb 1, w 3) | 4 | – | – | – | – |
| TOTAL | (20 Overs) | 209/9 | RR: 10.45 |
Namibia Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
| Gerhard Erasmus | 4.0 | 0 | 20 | 4 | 5.00 |
| Ruben Trumpelmann | 4.0 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 9.50 |
| JJ Smit | 3.0 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 14.00 |
| Bernard Scholtz | 4.0 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 8.25 |
| Ben Shikongo | 3.0 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 15.00 |
| Max Heingo | 2.0 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 15.00 |
2nd Innings: Namibia Batting (Target: 210)
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Louren Steenkamp | b Varun Chakaravarthy | 28 | 20 | 4 | 1 | 140.00 |
| Jan Frylinck | c Tilak Varma b Arshdeep Singh | 22 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 146.67 |
| Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton | b Varun Chakaravarthy | 13 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Gerhard Erasmus (c) | c Suryakumar b Axar Patel | 18 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 150.00 |
| JJ Smit | lbw b Varun Chakaravarthy | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Zane Green (wk) | c Rinku Singh b Hardik Pandya | 14 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 77.78 |
| Malan Kruger | c Bumrah b Axar Patel | 5 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Ruben Trumpelmann | b Jasprit Bumrah | 6 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 37.50 |
| Bernard Scholtz | c Axar Patel b Hardik Pandya | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Ben Shikongo | lbw b Hardik Pandya | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Max Heingo | not out | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | (lb 2, w 4) | 6 | – | – | – | – |
| TOTAL | (18.2 Overs) | 116 | RR: 6.33 |
India Bowling Performance
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Econ |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 4.0 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 4.50 |
| Hardik Pandya | 3.2 | 0 | 21 | 3 | 6.30 |
| Axar Patel | 4.0 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 6.25 |
| Arshdeep Singh | 3.0 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 10.00 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 4.0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 5.00 |
Post-Match Analysis: Key Takeaways
1. Ishan Kishan’s Red-Hot Form
Ishan Kishan has virtually sealed his spot in the playing XI with this performance. His 20-ball fifty, featuring four consecutive sixes in one over, dismantled Namibia’s Powerplay plans and allowed India to experiment with the middle order.
2. The Chakaravarthy Conundrum
Varun Chakaravarthy proved why he is currently the No. 1 ranked T20I bowler. On a Delhi pitch that offered some grip, his subtle variations were too complex for the Namibian batters. His ability to take wickets in the middle overs while keeping the economy under 5.00 will be vital for India’s title defense.
3. Erasmus: The Lone Warrior
Despite the heavy defeat, Namibia can take heart from Gerhard Erasmus’s performance. His 4/20 against a world-class batting lineup is a testament to his skill. If the Namibian batters can match their captain’s discipline, the Associate nation could cause upsets in the group stages.
4. Hardik Pandya’s All-Round Value
Hardik Pandya looks at the peak of his fitness. Scoring a rapid fifty and returning to take three wickets (including a near-hat-trick) shows he is ready to shoulder the responsibility of the team’s premier all-rounder.
Player of the Match: Hardik Pandya
For his explosive 52 (28) and match-finishing spell of 3/21.