Ishan and Hardik shine as India scores 209 runs against Namibia

Ishan Kishan

Rakesh Thapliyal

New Delhi: Briliant half centuries by opener Ishan Kishan (61 runs, 24balls, 6×4, 5×6) and Hardik Pandya (52 runs, 28balls, 4×4, 4×6) helped India to reach 209 for 9 in 20 overs in the group A match of ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup 2026 here on Thursday at ArunJaitley stadium.

In the absence of Abhishek Sharma opener Sanju Samson got the chance and started well by attacking fast bowler Ben Shikongo. He hit two sixes and a boundry in the second over but soon got out scoring 22 runs in just 8 balls with three sixes.

Ishan Kishan hit JJ Smit for 28 runs in the sixth over. He smacked four sixes and a boundary in a row.

Two big partnerships boosted Indian innings first, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma (25) added 79 runs for the second wicket. For the 5th wicket Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dubey (23) put 81 runs.

At one time India were in commanding postion with 205 for 4 in 18.1 overs, but after that, India lost five wickets by adding just 4 runs in 11balls.

Namibia’s captain Gerhard Erasmus took four wickets. He was most successful bowler and took important wickets of Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma and Axar Patel.

Earlier, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav lost the toss and asked to bat first by Namibia’s captain Gerhard Erasmus. Suryakumar Yadav said that he was also planning to bat first.

India have made two changes, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah who missed the opening game against the USA returns in place of Mohammed Siraj. Siraj has taken three wickets against USA and played very imortant role in the win.

Abhishek Sharma who was admitted to hospital with a stomach illness misses out, with Sanju Samson coming in his place.

Teams:

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, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo, Max Heingo