India will take on Namibia in Match 18 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi. The Men in Blue aim to continue their strong start, while Namibia looks to recover from a defeat in their opening game.
Match details
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
Date: Thursday, February 12, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM IST | 6:30 PM PST | 1:30 PM GMT
Team Overviews
India started the tournament with a solid win over the United States in Mumbai. After an early scare, the team regrouped and secured a victory, demonstrating depth in both batting and bowling. Captain Suryakumar Yadav will look to maintain India’s momentum as the side continues to adapt to different pitches and conditions. Key contributors such as Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, and Jasprit Bumrah will be pivotal in both controlling the opposition and accelerating scoring when required.
Namibia struggled in their opening game against the Netherlands, failing to challenge the stronger side. However, the Gerhard Erasmus-led squad is familiar with conditions in New Delhi, having already played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The Namibians will rely on contributions from their top-order batters, including Louren Steenkamp and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, while JJ Smit and Ruben Trumpelmann are expected to anchor the bowling attack.
Key Players
India: Sanju Samson could be the standout batter for India. He is opening alongside Ishan Kishan and will look to make a strong impact given the limited opportunities in the tournament. Jasprit Bumrah is the bowler to watch. Returning after missing the USA game due to illness, Bumrah’s precision and ability to generate early breakthroughs will be crucial for India, especially in the first six overs and during the death overs.
Namibia: Gerhard Erasmus leads the side and will need to inspire the team with both bat and ball. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton is expected to play a key role in providing stability in the middle order, while JJ Smit and Max Heingo will be important for keeping India’s scoring under control.
Head-to-Head Record
India and Namibia have met only once before in T20Is. The previous encounter took place on November 8, 2021, with India emerging victorious. Namibia will be aiming to upset the Men in Blue this time but will have to overcome the experience and skill of the Indian side.
Pitch Report
The Arun Jaitley Stadium pitch usually supports spinners in the early stages of the match, but dew could become a factor in the evening. Moisture on the outfield often helps teams chasing a target, with three out of the last five matches at this venue being won by the side batting second. Fast bowlers remain important, particularly during the middle and death overs, to restrict scoring and take timely wickets.
Probable Playing XIs
India:
Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (WK), Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy
Namibia:
Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (C), JJ Smit, Zane Green (WK), Ruben Trumpelmann, Dylan Leicher, Willem Myburgh, Bernard Scholtz, Max Heingo
Probable Match Scenarios
India is likely to look for a strong start from their openers, followed by a consolidated middle-order performance. Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh could dictate the early overs, while Axar Patel may play a crucial role in the middle overs. Namibia will need to put together strong batting partnerships and depend on disciplined bowling from JJ Smit and Ruben Trumpelmann to keep India under pressure. The match may hinge on how well Namibia handles the Indian pace attack and how India adapts to any dew factor while chasing or defending.
Live Streaming and Broadcast
India: JioStar Network Channels, JioHotstar (App & Website)
Pakistan: PTV Sports, Ten Sports, Geo Super
UK: Sky Sports Cricket, BBC iPlayer
Australia: Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports
Global: ICC Official App, ICC Website, YouTube Live (official ICC stream)
Match Prediction
India enters this clash as the clear favorites given their stronger squad depth, home conditions, and recent form. Namibia has talent but will need exceptional performances to challenge the Men in Blue. On balance, India is expected to secure a comfortable win, provided the top-order batters perform and Jasprit Bumrah leads the pace attack effectively.
