That is the first boundary of the India innings! Sanju Samson got a fuller delivery outside the off‑stump and he lofted it down the ground for a SIX. Eight runs came off the first over.

IND 8-0 (1)

Ishan Kishan takes the strike, Sanju Samson is at the other end. Here we go... Namibia’s left-arm pacer Ruben Trumpelmann bowls a short delivery outside the off‑stump. The ball swings away from Kishan, and he lets it go at the last moment. Umpire calls it a wide!

You’ve got to feel for Mohammed Siraj, who was India’s top wicket-taker in the first game against the USA. The pacer returned with figures of 3 for 29 in the match, but he has been dropped tonight to rope in Jasprit Bumrah in the playing XI.

Abhishek Sharma is not playing this game as he is taking his time to recover following a stomach infection. India captain Suryakumar Yadav informed at the toss that the player might take one more game to get fit. This might see Abhishek missing out on the crucial match against Pakistan.

India (Playing XI): Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan(w), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.

Namibia (Playing XI): Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus(c), JJ Smit, Zane Green(w), Ruben Trumpelmann, Malan Kruger, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo, Max Heingo.

"We are going to have a bowl. It is a very good flat cricketing surface, from a surface and dew point of view it is the right thing to do. It is about tightening our skillset. Looks like a good wicket, try and chase it in the second half. That's why we play cricket, to entertain. We have two changes," said Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus.

"We were looking to bat first. Very happy with it. As long as we are losing the toss and winning the game, we are fine with it. Dew is going to be a big factor, but when you go out and defend totals, it gives you confidence. Abhishek is still not fine, he will miss a game or two. Sanju comes in, similar batter, explosive. Bumrah comes in for Siraj," said India captain Suryakumar Yadav.

Nambia captain Gerhard Erasmus has won the toss and opted to bowl against India in their Group A game at the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, tonight.

In just six minutes from now, the captains of India and Namibia will be at the centre for the toss. The hosts should aim to bat first and make the required improvements that they lacked against USA in their previous game. As for Namibia, they should opt to bowl first if they win the toss.

Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus on Wednesday took a slight dig at the organisers for not scheduling their training sessions in the night ahead of their T20 World Cup game against India under lights. Namibia had played a day game against Netherlands on Monday and both their training sessions on the following two days were held in daylight. India, on the other hand, trained in the night twice in the lead up to the game. Considering Namibia don't have the infrastructure for day night games back home, they would have welcomed some time under lights ahead of the India match on Thursday.

"Yeah, we haven't been given a night training (session) before this game, I don't know why. I think India has two night training (sessions) and I see outside that Canada will have a night training now, so make of that what you want, but we'll just rock up and do our Namibian way, which is to fight," Erasmus said.

As India aim to keep Abhishek Sharma fit for the Pakistan match, the contest against Namibia could be a God-sent opportunity for an out-of-form Sanju Samson to get into run-scoring mode after a string of failures that saw him lose his place to Ishan Kishan, who is going through a purple patch.

When it comes to quality, India are light years ahead of the African team Namibia which hardly looked up to scratch against fellow Associate nation the Netherlands at this very ground. To be fair to India, the match against Namibia is more of an extended warm up tie where they would like to bat first and let the line-up get a good hit in the middle.

For India, Abhishek's hospitalisation with a stomach infection and viral fever is concerning. Even if he was discharged on Wednesday, it won't be advisable to put him on the park without allowing him to sufficiently recuperate before the big game against Pakistan on Sunday, where Abhishek's presence is a crucial intimidating factor for the opposition.

After a stuttering batting performance on a tacky Wankhede track in the opener against the USA, the Indian batting line-up would like to go all guns blazing on an Arun Jaitley Stadium track that could be called a belter for quality teams. At the receiving end would be Namibia, who are not expected to cause much trouble to the dominant defending champions in their second group A game of the T20 showpiece

India were tested by USA in their very first game of T20 World Cup 2026, but managed to clinch a 29-run win at the end at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai last week. Suryakumar Yadav played a fighting knock, helping the hosts post a total of 161 for 9 after getting an invitation to bat first. The side got off to a horrible start, going down to 46 for 4 in the Powerplay. Abhishek Sharma fell to Ali Khan for a golden duck, while Shadley van Schalkwyk struck thrice in the final over of the powerplay to dent India. USA kept it tight with wickets at regular intervals before Suryakumar scored 84 not out off 49 to propel his team to a respectable total on the two-paced wicket. Van Schalkwyk was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4 for 25. In the chase, USA were restricted to 132/8. Mohammed Siraj returned with 3 for 29.

Abhishek Sharma fell ill due to stomach infection and was admitted to a hospital. He was discharged on the eve of the match. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan copped a blow on his toe while facing Jasprit Bumrah during training on Wednesday. He, however, continued batting after a brief break. India will hope that both the batters are fit for the Namibia game, which is taking place a couple of days before the Pakistan match.

India: Ishan Kishan(w), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar.

Namibia: Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus(c), JJ Smit, Zane Green(w), Ruben Trumpelmann, Dylan Leicher, Willem Myburgh, Bernard Scholtz, Max Heingo, Malan Kruger, Ben Shikongo, Jack Brassell, Jan Balt.

Hello everyone, welcome to the live blog of India vs Namibia, T20 World Cup 2026 Group A game. Stay connected for the live score and updates related to the contest!