T20 World Cup: Kishan, Pandya star as India post 210-run target for Namibia

• Kishan hammers 61 as India dominate powerplay.
• Pandya, Dube forge rapid 81-run partnership.
• Kishan, Pandya fifties power India to 209/6.

After being asked to bat first, India set a 210-run target for Namibia, powered by Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya's fiery fifties, in the 18th group stage match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on Thursday.

Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus's decision to field first backfired as the home side piled up 209/9 in their 20 overs.

The hosts got off to a contrasting start to their innings as right-handed opener Sanju Samson fell victim to Ben Shikongo after scoring an eight-ball 22, which featured three sixes and a four.

Following the early stutter, Kishan was joined by Tilak Varma, and the duo put India into a commanding position by adding 79 runs for the second wicket off just 31 deliveries.

The platform-setting partnership concluded with Kishan's dismissal on the first delivery of the eighth over, who walked back after top-scoring with a 24-ball 61, studded with six fours and five sixes.

His dismissal followed two further setbacks for the home side as their captain Suryakumar Yadav (12) and Varma (25) perished in quick succession.

With the scoreboard reading 124/4 in 11.5 overs, Pandya and Shivam Dube launched an astounding recovery as the duo knitted a quickfire 81-run partnership for the fifth wicket before both perished on successive deliveries in the penultimate over.

Pandya made a 28-ball 52, laced with four fours and as many sixes, while Dube chipped in with 23 off 16 deliveries.

Their back-to-back dismissals sparked a collapse as India lost three more wickets at the backend but managed to post a 200-plus total.

Skipper Erasmus was the standout bowler for Namibia, taking four wickets for just 20 runs in his four overs, while JJ Smit, Bernard Scholtz and Shikongo could make one scalp apiece.