Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus delivered one of the most talked-about moments of India vs Namibia in the T20 World Cup 2026 in Delhi, using clever variations in release points to unsettle India’s batters. While batters are used to facing changes in wrist position and angles, Erasmus added a fresh wrinkle by releasing a few deliveries from behind the wicket, creating uncertainty around the line and pace of the ball.
One such delivery proved decisive. Tilak Varma, a key middle-order presence for India in this tournament, was undone by an unusual release, misjudging the trajectory and losing his wicket. The tactic initially raised eyebrows. When Erasmus tried it for the first time, on-field umpire Rod Tucker called it a dead ball, clearly unimpressed by the novelty.
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The Namibian skipper, however, backed his method and continued to mix up his release points within the laws, using the element of surprise to his advantage. The result was a standout spell in a tough contest.
— everyday_cricket (@everydaycric300) February 12, 2026
Gerhard Erasmus Bizarrer DeliveryErasmus finished with impressive figures of 4 for 20, cutting through India’s batting line-up and briefly slowing the hosts’ momentum. His final over was particularly impactful, where he picked up two wickets to halt India’s late-innings surge. Against a batting unit stacked with power hitters, Erasmus’ control and creativity stood out, underlining how smart bowling variations can still make a difference in a format often dominated by brute force.
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India (Playing XI): Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan(w), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
Namibia (Playing XI): Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus(c), JJ Smit, Malan Kruger, Zane Green(w), Ruben Trumpelmann, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo, Max Heingo
