With an easy win against minnows Namibia in the bag, reigning champions India stayed unbeaten in Group A of the T20 World Cup 2026. The emphatic 93-run victory was definitely a crowd charmer but the game which was deemed to be an extended warm-up, unlocked a different threat altogether, against the side-arm bowling, before the men in blue face Pakistan this Sunday in Colombo.
Ishan Kishan’s fireworks at the top, followed by a stabilising yet aggressive stand between Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, shaped India’s innings so comprehensively that Namibia were never realistically in the contest. Later, Varun Chakravarthy proved far too hot to handle — three Namibian batters falling to the mystery spinner in quick succession. Chakravarthy finished
with an outstanding 3/7 in two overs, while Pandya (2/21) and Axar Patel (2/20) chipped in with two wickets each to seal a clinical outing.
Ishan Kishan — Remember the Name
The way Ishan Kishan has embraced his renewed opportunity suggests the selectors’ faith is unlikely to be misplaced. Fondly dubbed the ‘pocket-size dynamo’, Kishan lit up Kotla with an innings that blended effortless timing with brute aggression.
There had been mild concern over his fitness after he took a painful blow to his left toe while facing Jasprit Bumrah in the nets a night earlier. But any doubts vanished quickly once he stepped out to bat — particularly during a ruthless Powerplay assault.
Sixty-one runs off just 24 deliveries, at a staggering strike rate of 254.17 — pure carnage. The tempo rose sharply after Kishan switched bats following the fifth over. With a fresh willow in hand, he tore into JJ Smit, launching four consecutive sixes and a boundary to complete a blistering 20-ball half-century.
That blitz also propelled India into the record books, as they posted 86/1 in the Powerplay — the fourth-highest Powerplay total in men’s T20 World Cup history.
Pandya & Dube Provide the Finishing Push
Kishan’s dismissal briefly halted India’s charge, with three wickets falling in the space of 28 deliveries — all to spin. Just as a slowdown threatened, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube combined to restore momentum.
The duo rebuilt sensibly against Ruben Trumpelmann while selectively targeting Bernard Scholtz and Ben Shikongo. Boundaries flowed freely, several towering into the second tier of the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Their brisk 81-run partnership carried India past the 200-mark before Gerhard Erasmus broke the stand with his clever side-arm variations. By then, however, the damage had been done.
Sanju Bites The Dust Again
Sanju got a last-minute call-up for the Namibia fixture as Abhishek Sharma fell ill. The Kerala wicketkeeper-batter looked to make the most of his World Cup debut, scoring 22 off 8 with a strike rate of 275. But just when his innings seemed to be taking off, Shikongo got him with a slower delivery. Sanju’s intent was spot on but luck wasn’t in his side on Thursday evening.
Now with Abhishek linking up the squad after walking out of the hospital, Sanju might get back to warming benches. However, the final call will depend upon how fit Abhishek would be in the next couple of days.
Erasmus — A Sneak Peek Before the Pakistan Test
With the Pakistan clash looming, much of the chatter has centred around their side-arm quick Umran Tariq and the uniqueness of his action. Interestingly, Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus offered India a similar, albeit less extreme, preview.
Using the flat Kotla surface smartly, Erasmus mixed side-arm deliveries with conventional round-arm balls and even bowled from behind the crease to alter lengths. The variation deceived a well-set Tilak Varma and helped Namibia briefly regain control in the middle overs.
His spell, especially against India’s left-handers, applied the brakes after Kishan’s departure. Erasmus finished with impressive figures of 4/20 in four overs, a performance that, in some ways, provided India a tactical rehearsal before tackling Pakistan’s unconventional bowling threat in Colombo.
