India’s momentum at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 gathered real pace as Suryakumar Yadav watched his side dismantle the Namibia national cricket team by 93 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday. The emphatic Group A win not only secured two crucial points but also underlined India’s growing confidence as the tournament heads into its business end.
“Pretty good game for everyone,” Suryakumar Yadav said at the post-match presentation, pleased with how the performance came together after a slightly scratchy start. “Exactly what you’re looking for going ahead. Every game is important, and it feels like we’re getting on the right road.”
Put in to bat, India recovered from early hiccups thanks to a blistering opening stand and a decisive middle-overs counterpunch. Ishan Kishan set the tone with a breathtaking 61 off just 24 balls, racing to a 20-ball half-century and putting the Namibian attack on the back foot inside the powerplay. Later, Hardik Pandya produced a muscular 52 from 28 deliveries, combining with Shivam Dube for a vital 81-run stand that stabilised the innings after a mini-collapse.
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Suryakumar Yadav acknowledged the surface wasn’t straightforward. “The ball was stopping a little bit, but credit to the Namibian bowlers for coming with clear plans,” he said, singling out skipper Gerhard Erasmus, who finished with impressive figures of 4/20. India’s late wobble, where five wickets fell for four runs, prevented a bigger total, but 209/9 proved more than enough.
The bowlers then ensured there was no drama in the chase. Namibia were bundled out for 116 in 18.2 overs, never quite able to build on promising starts. Varun Chakravarthy delivered a decisive spell, claiming 3/7 in two overs, while Jasprit Bumrah, completing his full quota, was another encouraging sign for India’s balance.
Suryakumar highlighted how India’s bowling combinations are starting to click. The partnership between Varun and Axar Patel, he said, offers control with both the new and old ball and flexibility at the death. He also praised Pandya’s all-round impact, calling his Player of the Match effort a timely boost for the group.
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With the defending champions settling into rhythm, India’s performance against Namibia felt like more than just a routine win. It was a statement of intent — that the batting is finding depth, the bowling is sharpening its edge, and the captain is seeing the kind of all-round buy-in that wins tournaments.
