A special knock from Suryakumar Yadav, followed by some terrific work from India’s bowling unit that missed Jasprit Bumrah, helped the hosts overcome a huge scare from the USA in India’s opening match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
The overwhelming favorites were jolted to 77/6 by the USA bowlers, but the skipper stood up in the hour of need, spanking 84 runs to carry the team total to 161. Then, despite Bumrah’s absence, the Indian bowlers managed to stave off the USA batsmen to 132, sealing the game by a decent margin of 29 runs.
India’s second match of the group stage is against Namibia, against whom they have played once before.
The only T20I encounter between India and Namibia happened in the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai. India won that game comprehensively by nine wickets through three-wicket hauls from Ravindra Jadeja and R. Ashwin each and half-centuries from Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul each. None of these four players are part of India’s T20I team anymore.
The India vs Namibia match is scheduled for February 12, Thursday, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
India’s lineup will be tinkered with. India are certain to make at least one change, and most probably two changes, as Jasprit Bumrah is set to return, but Abhishek Sharma is likely to miss.
Bumrah didn’t take the field against the USA due to illness. The senior fast bowler has recovered and bowled at full tilt in the training session on Tuesday. He is expected to replace Mohammed Siraj, who took three wickets against the USA.
IND vs NAM: Why will Abhishek Sharma miss the match against Namibia? Will Sanju Samson play?
Opener Abhishek Sharma is very likely to miss India’s next match against Namibia due to stomach issues. Abhishek has reportedly been hospitalized with a stomach infection, and it’s still not clear when he will be discharged.
Abhishek’s availability for the Namibia game on Thursday is tending to nil, and the management is not expected to rush him. It has been learned that he played against the USA with a fever, which could have aggravated his illness. He also didn’t field during USA’s innings.
If Abhishek isn’t available for Thursday’s match, in all likelihood, Sanju Samson will play and open alongside Ishan Kishan, to whom he had recently lost his opening spot.
Other than these two changes – Bumrah replacing Siraj and Samson replacing Abhishek – no other change is expected in India’s playing XI.
Meanwhile, Washington Sundar has recovered from his side injury and joined the team in Delhi. Sundar is unlikely to play against Namibia but could be thought of to feature against Pakistan in Colombo a few days later.
IND vs NAM: India’s Playing XI vs Namibia – Predicted
Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (C), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy
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