Sports Desk (MNN); India delivered a commanding performance ahead of their high-profile encounter with Pakistan, defeating Namibia by 93 runs in the Men’s T20 World Cup at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday.
With the much-anticipated showdown against Pakistan scheduled in Colombo on Sunday, India posted a formidable 209-9 after Ishan Kishan smashed 61 off just 24 balls.
Namibia, who opted to field after winning the toss, were bowled out for 116 in 18.2 overs as India secured their second consecutive win in Group A, matching Pakistan’s record. The victory marked India’s 10th straight win in T20 World Cup matches.
Spinner Varun Chakravarthy played a key role, claiming 3-7 in two overs. He struck with his first delivery to dismiss Louren Steenkamp for 29 and picked up two more wickets in his next over to halt Namibia’s promising start.
Axar Patel chipped in with two wickets through his left-arm spin, including Malan Kruger, courtesy of a diving catch by Jasprit Bumrah at short fine leg. Hardik Pandya also took two wickets in two balls late in the innings, narrowly missing a hat-trick.
Earlier, India raced to 100 in just seven overs. Sanju Samson contributed 22 off eight balls, while Kishan hammered four sixes and a four off JJ Smit to reach his half-century in just 20 deliveries.
Namibian skipper Gerhard Erasmus led a brief comeback, dismissing Kishan with his first ball and finishing with 4-20. India slipped from 104-1 to 124-4 before Pandya (52) and Shivam Dube (23) steadied the innings with an 81-run partnership for the fifth wicket.
Pandya’s innings ended spectacularly when substitute fielder Dylan Leicher completed a remarkable boundary catch, tossing the ball back into play before stepping over the ropes and returning to complete the dismissal.
India currently top Group A on net run rate, just ahead of Pakistan. The winner of Sunday’s clash will secure a place in the Super Eight stage as one of the top two teams from the five-nation group.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan government on Tuesday reversed its earlier decision to boycott the match, which had been announced in protest over Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament.
