India National Cricket Team vs Namibia National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: Ishan Kishan struck a 24-ball 61 and Hardik Pandya added a 28-ball 52 as India posted 209 for 9 against Namibia in a Group A match of the T20 World Cup on Thursday. Kishan’s aggressive knock set the platform on a flat Arun Jaitley Stadium pitch, even as Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus returned figures of 4 for 20 to pull things back in the middle overs.
Opening the innings, Kishan hit five sixes and six fours. He raced to his half-century in 20 balls, punishing anything short or overpitched from the Namibian pacers. His early assault helped India dominate the powerplay and build momentum.
Sanju Samson made 22 off eight balls, including three sixes, but failed to convert his start. Captain Suryakumar Yadav scored 12 off 12 before being stumped off left-arm spinner Bernard Scholtz, who deceived him with a dipping delivery.
Namibia fought back through Erasmus, who mixed his side-arm off-breaks with round-arm deliveries and varied his release point. He also bowled from behind the crease to alter the length, troubling India’s middle order. Tilak Varma made 25 but could not accelerate against the disciplined spell.
Despite the middle-overs slowdown, Pandya ensured India crossed the 200 mark. He struck four sixes and four fours in the final phase of the innings. Pandya shared an 81-run stand with Shivam Dube, who scored 28 off 16 balls, with the partnership coming off just 6.3 overs.
Erasmus was the standout bowler for Namibia, finishing with four wickets in his four overs and keeping India from posting an even bigger total.
India’s 209 for 9 set Namibia a stiff target in the group league fixture.
