India head into their clash against Namibia in New Delhi knowing their vaunted T20I batting needs a timely reset. Over the past two days, India’s top order has spent long hours in the nets, working on loosening up shoulders that looked uncharacteristically restrained in recent outings. The USA and Mumbai games took some of the sting out of India’s normally ruthless batting, offering rival teams a blueprint: on helpful surfaces, even this star-studded lineup can be contained.

With this T20 World Cup producing more bowler-friendly conditions than expected, 200-plus totals have been a rarity rather than the norm. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has acknowledged the need for subtle batting adjustments, but India’s intent remains clear. This team wants to dominate attacks before entertaining any drastic tactical shifts.

The training sessions reflected that mindset. Hardik Pandya was back to launching towering sixes into the stands, while Sanju Samson, likely to feature against Namibia, found his range square of the wicket, peppering the boundaries with clean, confident strokes. With the head coach watching closely, the message from the Indian camp was unmistakable: reclaim the six-hitting rhythm and reassert authority.

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For Namibia, the challenge is as much mental as it is technical. Captain Gerhard Erasmus has urged his players to stay present and not be overawed by the occasion of facing the defending champions. Namibia’s lack of experience under lights adds another layer of uncertainty, especially with no opportunity to train in similar conditions ahead of the game. Yet Erasmus’ call to “rock up and do it the Namibian way” underlines the fighting spirit Associate teams have shown throughout this World Cup.

The Delhi surface, with its relatively small boundaries, could finally align with pre-tournament expectations of a high-scoring contest. If the pitch plays true, this fixture might offer India the platform to rediscover their explosive best, while Namibia will look to punch above their weight and embrace the moment.

India

India are likely to take a cautious approach with Abhishek Sharma, who was hospitalised due to a stomach issue and discharged on the eve of the Namibia match. With a tight schedule and quick travel turnaround before the high-profile clash against Pakistan in Colombo, the team management is expected to avoid rushing him back into the XI. This opens the door for Sanju Samson, who impressed during extended net sessions, batting fluently alongside Ishan Kishan on both practice days.

The duo’s preparation points towards Samson opening the innings in New Delhi. In the bowling department, Jasprit Bumrah is set to return at full tilt after two intense training sessions, potentially replacing Mohammed Siraj despite his three-wicket haul against the USA.

Probable XI: Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh

Namibia

Namibia, meanwhile, enjoyed a productive afternoon net session, with several batters clearing the straight boundary. Expect them to back the same XI that showed fight against the Netherlands.

Probable XI: Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (c), JJ Smit, Zane Green (wk), Dylan Leicher, Ruben Trumpelmann, Willem Myburgh, Bernard Scholtz, Max Heingo