In the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, India continues their reign of domination and reached a comprehensive 93-run victory against Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday. The win, driven by half-centuries of blistering performance by Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya and then a dazzling spell cast by Varun Chakaravarthy, secured India’s claim to the peak of Group A.
The Batting Blitz: Ishan and Hardik Power India to 209
It took time for India to make it after being invited to bat first, but the team managed to get through an early wobble and post a mighty 209/9. Ishan Kishan was the star of the action, finishing a lightning-quick 61 off just 24 balls. By a combination of five boundaries and six towering sixes, his knock helped India achieve the 100-run goal in 6.5 overs the fastest team century in T20 World Cup history.
After a brief mid-point collapse in which the skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma fell in quick, rapid succession Hardik Pandya stepped up. Pandya took off an eye-popping 52 off of 28 balls, including a colossal 109-meter six, and India crossed the 200-run threshold. And while on-paper the final was dramatic five wickets were lost for 4 runs due to Gerhard Erasmus’s clever variations (4/20) the damage was done.
The Bowling Masterclass: Varun Chakaravarthy Wreaks Havoc
Namibia's pursuit started with a bang as they topped 57/1 in the Powerplay, their highest score at that period in T20 World Cups. But the arrival of Varun Chakaravarthy changed all that completely. Chakaravarthy threw his first ball and dismissed the dangerous Louren Steenkamp with his first pass.
He ended with impressively strong results of 3/7 on his first spell, tearing through an opponent’s Namibian middle order. Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya added two wickets each, and Arshdeep Singh achieved a personal mark with his 250th T20 wicket. Namibia was later bundled out for 116 in 18.2 overs, the last man to fall (hit wicket) off the Shivam Dube bowling line was Zane Green.
