Ishan Kishan stole the show in powerplay overs while Hardik Pandya stole the show towards the end with blazing fifties to take India forward. Sanju Samson got a start as well. But India lost their way as well. Gerhard Erasmus picked up 4/20 in 4 overs and got able assistance from others in last 4 overs to keep India down to 209/9. Yes, India should win this, but signs are concerning ahead of the bigger battles ahead for India.
Ishan Kishan’s blazing half-century gives India a rollicking start despite losing Sanju Samson.Â
Put into bat first, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson came out to open for India while Ruben Trumplemann had ball in hand for Namibia. Sanju made his intentions clear as he went straight over the bowler’s head for the maximum. Ben Shikongo came into the attack from the other end. Samson went big as he whipped it away over deep backward square leg for the maximum. He went big again as he pulled it away over deep square leg for the maximum. Samson went and lofted it over covers for a boundary.
But the bowler had the last laugh as he removed Samson for 22 off 8 balls with one four and 3 sixes to his name as another start was thrown away. Tilak Varma came out to bat next. JJ Smith came into the attack next as Ishan got into the act as he drove straight down the ground for a boundary. Ishan hit another boundary over mid-on for a boundary. Ishan was given OUT LBW but he reviewed and the inside edge saved the batter.
Shikongo continued as Ishan flicked it away over midwicket region for a boundary. Trumplemann came back and Kishan flicked it away to deep backward square leg for a boundary and then Tilak tickled it down to the fine leg fence again for a boundary. The 50 came up for India in 4.3 overs. Tilak smacked it through the off-side for a boundary through the covers.
JJ Smit came to bowl the last over of powerplay. Ishan helped it on its way over deep backward square leg for the maximum. Kishan went big and pumped it over the bowler’s head for a maximum. Kishan went big and slammed it over long-on for the maximum. Kishan went big again as he hit this over deep backward square leg for the maximum. Ishan then pulled it away for a boundary to deep forward square leg as Ishan reached his fifty in 20 balls. India were 86/1 in 6 overs at the end of powerplay with Ishan unbeaten on 50* off 20 balls and Tilak unbeaten on 13* off 8 balls. Drinks came onto the field as well.
Namibia hits back with regular wickets to peg India back a bit.Â
Max Heingo came into the attack after the break as Tilak got a lucky boundary past the stumps for a boundary. Tilak was put down at backward point as he got a reprieve. Kishan went big by pulling over deep square leg for the maximum. Ishan hit another boundary as he whipped it away to backward square leg for the maximum. The 100 came up for India in 6.5 overs.
Gerhard Erasmus came into the attack next and the captain struck first ball as he removed Kishan for a well made 61 off 24 balls with 6 fours and 5 sixes to his name as he was holed out in the deep midwicket region. Suryakumar Yadav came out to bat next. He got off the mark as well. Bernard Scholtz came into the attack. He bowled a good over. Erasmus continued as Surya went big by sweeping it behind square for the maximum over deep backward square leg fence. India reached 120/2 in 10 overs at the halfway stage of the game.
Scholtz continued and got rid of Indian captain Surya for 12 off 13 balls with one six to his name as he was stumped out as well. Hardik Pandya came out to bat next. He got off the mark as well. Erasmus struck again as he got rid of Tilak caught at long-off for 25 off 21 balls with 3 fours to his name. Shivam Dube came to the crease next. Bernard Scholtz continued as Hardik launched it away over the non-striker’s end for the maximum.
Ruben came back into the attack. Hardik hit him with a beautiful extra cover drive for a boundary at mid-off. India were 144/4 in 14 overs when Drinks was taken for the second time in the innings. Bernard Scholtz continued after the break as Dube took him on and lofted it over deep midwicket for the maximum. The bowler gifted away 5 wides as a bonus to the batting side. Pandya took on the bowler and launched the ball over wide long-off for the maximum.
Pandya again went big as he lunged forward and slapped it along the ground for a boundary towards deep cover point. India reached 168/4 in 15 overs with 24 coming off the over with Pandya unbeaten on 26 off 15 balls and Dube unbeaten on 13 off 9 balls.
Hardik Pandya’s blazing fifty drives India forward but Namibia hit back to keep India to 209/9.Â
Ben Shikongo came back into the attack. Hardik went big and cleared his front leg to go down the ground for the maximum over long-off. Hardik then lofted the ball over the bowler’s head for a boundary. Hardik went big again as he squeezed it through point for a boundary. Trumplemann came back into the attack. He bowled a quiet over. Smit continued as Dube squeezed it away between short third man and backward point for a boundary.
Gerhard Erasmus came to bowl the 19th over and he was launched by Hardik as he launched over midwicket for the maximum. The 50 came up for Pandya in 27 balls while the 200 came up for India in 18.1 overs. Erasmus hit back and got rid of Pandya for 52 off 28 balls with 4 fours and 4 sixes to his name as he was holed out in the deep. Rinku Singh came to bat next. Another wicket fell as Dube was run out for 23 off 16 balls with one four and one six to his name. Axar Patel came out to bat next.
Erasmus got another as he cleaned up Axar for a golden duck. Varun Chakaravarthy came out to bat next. Smit came to bowl the last over as Rinku fell for 1 off 6 balls with Erasmus taking the catch. Arshdeep Singh came out to bat next. He got off the mark and then we had a run out to end the innings as Arshdeep fell for 2 off 2 balls. Varun remained unbeaten on 1 off 1 ball as India collapsed to finish with a below par score of 209/9 in 20 overs. 10 extras given by the fielding side.
Gerhard Erasmus was the pick of the bowlers for Namibia as he finished with 4/20 in 4 overs. Ben Shikongo finished with 1/41 in 3 overs. JJ Smit finished with 1/50 in 4 overs. Bernard Scholtz finished with 1/41 in 4 overs. Rubin Trumplemann finished with 0/38 in 4 overs. Max Heingo finished with 0/18 in 1 over.
Who’s Winning, India or Namibia?Â
India have posted a good total on the board but could have been more but Namibia through Gerhard Erasmus fought back and kept the score to 209. The pitch is flat and India can go the distance. This match is not over by any means. But yes, India has runs on the board and will be favourites at this stage. Don’t count Namibia out just yet.
Let’s see how the chase unfolds from here.
Also Read:Â ICC T20 WC 2026: Ishan Kishan Gives India A Fast Start