After a scare against Team USA in their opening match of the 2026 T20 World Cup, India now meet Namibia in Delhi on February 12 with a further two points up for grabs – and with a couple creases to iron out. 

And, potentially, it looks as if India will take the field minus the game’s No 1 ranked batter in Abhishek Sharma, who was hospitalized two days before in New Delhi with a stomach bug.

Not long after the tournament officially began with its opening ceremony – after two games – it was India, defending World Cup champions and world’s No 1 team, that was looking at the possibility of an embarrassing loss. Six wickets had fallen for 77 runs, and Suryakumar Yadav was fast running out of batting partners. A slice of luck on 15 was followed by SKY turning the tide with a terrific innings of 84 not out off 49 balls, which was backed by some good work in the field as India beat USA by 29 runs. 

What stood out was how Surya and the others, despite wickets falling, stood by their mantra of fearless and high-risk, high-reward batting. It paid off for Surya that day, but Namibia must surely have taken notice of how their fellow Associates Member was sloppy in the field. Had it not been for three dropped catches, the most vital being a reprieve of Surya when he was on 15, and USA might have easily won that match. 

Tilak Varma’s comeback was brief but pleasing: 25 off 16 balls, with a confident straight six off his fifth ball faced. His return makes India tougher, and more runs against Namibia will send him towards the Super Eights with renewed confidence. India also erred in sending Shivam Dube ahead Rinku Singh and Hardik Pandya in Mumbai, so in case there’s another batting wobble, expect Axar Patel to stride out. 

If, as expected, Abhishek does not pass the medical test, then Sanju Samson would return to the XI in the role he was picked for at this World Cup – as an opener. However, Ishan remains India’s top wicketkeeper now. 

Jasprit Bumrah missed the first game on account of apparently not being 100% and in his place Mohammed Siraj – drafted into the squad less than 48 hours before – took 3/29 off his four overs. Siraj had tickets to Barcelona to watch his favourite football club Real Madrid play Real Sociadad but got his “dream call” from skipper Surya and grabbed his surprise chance superbly. With Bumrah back, it seems like Siraj will go back to the bench given that he was a replacement callup. 

The fifth bowler was also problematic at the Wankhede Stadium. Pandya conceded runs at 8.50 over, and Surya did not use Dube once. Washington Sundar has linked up with the Indian squad in Delhi and bowled at the nets, but as much as the Kotla surface encourages spin, India playing three spinners does not look likely. 

Namibia, after being bowled out for 67 by India A, have not had the tournament start they would have envisioned. Their total of 156/8 was overhauled with two wickets to spare by Netherlands, also in New Delhi.  Their batting is settled, and the bowlers know what to do. But a lack of experience playing in Indian conditions where Namibia lack. Namibia have packed their squad with allrounders, so expect a slew of bowling rotations on the field. 

India likely 11: 1 Ishan Kishan (wk), 2 Sanju Samson, 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 5 Rinku Singh, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Shivam Dube, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Jasprit Bumrah, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Varun Chakravarthy

Namibia likely 11: 1 Louren Steenkamp, 2 Jan Frylinck, 3 Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, 4 Gerhard Erasmus (capt), 5 JJ Smit, 6 Zane Green (wk), 7 Ruben Trumpelmann, 8 Dylan Leicher, 9 Bernard Scholz, 10 Ben Shikongo, 11 Max Heingo