Defending champions India defeated Namibia by 93 runs in their Group A match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday in the Men’s T20 World Cup, with wrist-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy claiming 3-7.
Ishan Kishan’s scorching 61 off 24 balls and Hardik Pandya’s 52 off 28 balls helped India reach 209/9 in their 20 overs. Gerhard Erasmus, the captain of Namibia, was the best bowler in the team, producing figures of 4–20 with his slingy style and variety.
Louren Steenkamp and Jan Frylinck launched a powerplay attack to start Namibia’s chase, but Chakravarthy’s spell destroyed their middle order. Namibia was bowled out for 116 in 18.2 overs, with each Indian bowler contributing at least one wicket. In addition to being India’s largest victory in Men’s T20 World Cup history, the 93-run margin highlights their supremacy in spite of sporadic mistakes during the game.
Jan Frylinck took a four and six off Hardik Pandya to start Namibia’s chase. He then drove and pulled Arshdeep Singh for two boundaries. But when Frylinck mishandled a knuckleball to deep mid-wicket in the fourth over, Arshdeep responded. Namibia finished Power-play at 57/1 after Louren Steenkamp carved Arshdeep for two boundaries and a six slashed over the short third.
In the eighth over, Varun Chakaravarthy shifted the tide of the match after Namibia amassed 10 runs off Jasprit Bumrah’s first over. His first delivery was a googly that hit Steenkamp for 29. Erasmus and Loftie-Eaton made an effort to rebuild, but Varun’s accuracy silenced them.
Even though Gerhard Erasmus hit Axar Patel with consecutive slog-sweeping sixes in the ninth over, Varun came back to further destroy Namibia, dismissing JJ Smit with another googly and having Loftie-Eaton hole out to long-off.
When Erasmus holed out to long-off, Axar was added to the wicket-taking charts. Malan Kruger then top-edged a sweep to short fine leg, but he was able to hold onto the ball just in time.
In order to help India win the T20 World Cups for the eleventh time in a row, Bumrah, who replaced Mohammed Siraj, smashed a yorker on the base of an off-stump to castle Ruben Trumpelmann. Hardik also took two wickets, and Shivam Dube got Zane Green out by hit wicket.
Brief scores:
India 209/9 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 61, Hardik Pandya 52; Gerhard Erasmus 4-20)
Namibia 116 all out in 18.2 overs (Louren Steenkamp 29, Jan Frylinck 22; Varun Chakaravarthy 3-7, Axar Patel 2-20)