The ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026 witnesssed a masterclass in medical T20 cricket as India dismantled Namibia by 93 runs of their Group A encounter on the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. On an evening the place the native followers had been handled to a boundary fest, India’s “all-round” depth was on full show. Bolstered by a blistering begin from Ishan Kishan and a ending flourish from Hardik Pandya, the Males in Blue posted a formidable 209/9, earlier than a disciplined bowling assault led by Varun Chakaravarthy folded the Namibian resistance for simply 116.
Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya’s power-hitting surge takes India to an enormous complete
Profitable the toss was solely half the battle; the actual fireworks started when Kishan took guard. The dynamic opener was in a punishing temper, racing to a half-century in simply 20 balls. Alongside Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma, Kishan dismantled the Namibian tempo assault, making certain India crossed the 100-run mark in lower than seven overs. Regardless of a middle-order wobble attributable to Gerhard Erasmus’s intelligent four-wicket haul (4/20), the momentum by no means actually shifted.
The arrival of Pandya shifted the gears again into overdrive. Pandya performed the position of the quintessential finisher, smashing 52 off 28 balls, laced with 4 towering sixes. His partnership with Shivam Dube (23) added a quick-fire 81 runs for the fifth wicket, propelling India previous the 200-run milestone. Whereas the tail struggled to navigate the ultimate over, the injury was already completed. India’s complete of 209 proved to be a mountain too excessive for the affiliate nation to climb underneath the Delhi lights.
Varun Chakaravarthy’s net and Pandya’s golden contact stifle Namibia throughout chase
The second half of the match belonged to the Indian bowlers, who by no means allowed the Namibian batters to settle right into a rhythm. Whereas Louren Steenkamp (29) and Jan Frylinck (22) offered a quick spark within the Powerplay, the introduction of Chakaravarthy modified the complexion of the sport. Chakaravarthy, the “thriller spinner,” was nearly unplayable, returning staggering figures of three/7 in his two-over spell. He bamboozled the highest order, eradicating Steenkamp and JJ Smit in fast succession to go away the chase in tatters.
If the spinners tightened the noose, Pandya offered the ending blows. After his heroics with the bat, Pandya proved why he’s the world’s premier all-rounder by choosing up 2/21. He utilized his variations completely on the Delhi floor, eradicating Bernard Scholtz and Ben Shikongo in a single over to demoralize the tail. Supported by Axar Patel’s two wickets and Jasprit Bumrah’s customary economical spell (1/20), India bundled out Namibia for 116 in 18.2 overs.
The 93-run victory not solely boosts India’s Web Run Fee considerably but in addition solidifies their place because the workforce to beat in Group A. For his 52 runs and two essential wickets, Pandya was rightfully named Participant of the Match, signalling that he’s in peak kind for the match.
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Right here’s how followers reacted:
7 PLAYER OF THE MATCH AWARDS FOR HARDIK PANDYA IN T20I. 😍🔥 pic.twitter.com/Uvru4YBHbB
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 12, 2026
India has defeated Namibia by 93 runs
Varun Chakaravarthy: 3 wickets
Axar Patel: 2 wickets
Hardik Pandya : 2 wickets#T20WorldCup #T20WorldCup2026 #IndvsNam pic.twitter.com/kuX0vseLrc— Vashu (@vashuaarya) February 12, 2026
A complete win for Workforce India 🔥#ICCMensT20WorldCup2026 #INDvsNAM
Scorecard 👉 https://t.co/eje36BJVcd pic.twitter.com/KCbMobykO3
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 12, 2026
India gained by 93 runs & Hardik Pandya gained the Man of Match of Award. #INDvsNAM #T20WorldCup2026 #T20WorldCup
pic.twitter.com/JA6kT8TlA5— Pahari Pulse (@paharipulse) February 12, 2026
27 BALL FIFTY BY HARDIK PANDYA.
– a complete present placed on by Hardik.#INDvNAM pic.twitter.com/eEFjQ4XoU0
— Anusha Sharma (@_AnushaSharma) February 12, 2026
Hardik Pandya Participant of the match 🏆 pic.twitter.com/3wZVlV2Xtj
— RCBIANS OFFICIAL (@RcbianOfficial) February 12, 2026
Once more a Cluth efficiency by Hardik Pandya. Nice fifty plus couple of wickets.
Absolutely My Participant of the match 🔥🔥🔥#INDvNAM#T20WorldCup2026 #T20WC2026 pic.twitter.com/wIR7eyprwa— Balinder Singh Dhanauri (@BalinderDhanori) February 12, 2026
Ishan Kishan crushed it!!
61 in Delhi. Highest rating by an Indian keeper in T20 WC historical past.#INDvNAM
— Sudeep Srivastava (@sudeepsriv) February 12, 2026
WELL PLAYED, ISHAN KISHAN
Ishan Kishan smashed a panoramic 61 off simply 24 balls, registering the best particular person rating by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter in T20 World Cup historical past.
A very sensational knock 🔥#ishankishan #INDvNAM#T20WorldCup2026 pic.twitter.com/x3CxIO86bi
— BELA X (@TamannaahB21527) February 12, 2026
𝑱𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒂 ⭐
Ishan Kishan’s 61 in Delhi is now the best rating by an Indian wicketkeeper in T20 World Cup historical past
An announcement knock that alerts the rise of a brand new record-holder. 👏🏼#INDvNAM #T20WorldCup2026 pic.twitter.com/RFXp2SiQeV
— Rakeshchandra Yadav 🇮🇳 (@rakeshchandray2) February 12, 2026
If India win the World Cup, I imagine ‘apna’ Ishan kishan could possibly be Participant of the Match. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/cLm0PXHgR6
— Abanish Sinha (@abanish_Bihar) February 12, 2026
Ishan Kishan Nation gotta be us proper?😭❤️ pic.twitter.com/1b4nCK2e3k
— PK (@PK23032) February 12, 2026
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