India start strong against Namibia in T20 World Cup 2026
Cricket
Erasmus and Scholtz pull the Defending champions back with wickets
NEW DELHI (Dunya News) – Defending champions and co-hosts India have begun their batting innings against Namibia in Group A of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.
Namibia’s captain, Gerhard Erasmus, won the toss at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, and elected to field first, citing potential dew later in the evening.
Sanju Samson, returning to the World Cup side, hit three sixes and a four in just eight balls for 22 runs before being caught at deep midwicket. Ishan Kishan then took charge, racing to a 20-ball fifty with a remarkable sequence of sixes and boundaries, taking India to 104 for 2 in just 7.1 overs.
Namibia’s spinners, Erasmus and Bernard Scholtz, responded sharply in the middle overs. Erasmus removed both Kishan and Tilak Varma, while Scholtz claimed Suryakumar Yadav, slowing India’s run rate and creating pressure. From overs eight to thirteen, the pair took three wickets for 30 runs, showing the challenge India face in maintaining momentum.
Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube have stepped in to rebuild the innings, hitting crucial boundaries and sixes. At the 15th over mark, India are 168 for 4, keeping the scoring rate above 11 runs per over as they look to post a formidable total.
SQUADS
India: Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy.
Namibia: Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (capt), JJ Smit, Zane Green (wk), Ruben Trumpelmann, Malan Kruger, Ben Shikongo, Bernard Scholtz, Max Heingo.
