Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya Hit Fifties As India Post Their Third-Highest Total In T20 World Cup History

India vs Namibia, ICC T20 World Cup 2026: India posted a massive total of 209/9 against Namibia in match 18 of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Thursday, February 12. This was India's third-highest score in the T20 World Cup history after their efforts against England in 2007 and Afghanistan in 2021, respectively.

Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya smashed outstanding fifties as India produced an improved batting effort after Namibia opted to bowl first. However, Namibia finished the innings with an impressive effort. Just three runs came in the final over, whereas Rinku Singh (1) and Arshdeep Singh (2) lost their wickets. Namibia bowled brilliantly in the death overs, as just 25 runs came in the final four overs.

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India have racked up 14 200-plus totals in T20Is post T20 WC 2024; no other team has more than seven in the timeframe. This was India's 47th 200-plus score in T20I cricket.

200-plus totals for India in T20WC

218/4 vs ENG, Durban, 2007

210/2 vs AFG, Abu Dhabi, 2021

209/9 vs NAM, Delhi, 2026

205/5 vs AUS, Gros Islet, 2024

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Despite losing Sanju Samson (22) in just the second over of the innings, India were off to a flying start as Ishan Kishan smashed the bowlers all around the park. His 20-ball fifty helped India reach 86 at the end of the powerplay. Kishan's stay at the crease came to an end in the eighth over, as he was dismissed for 61 runs in 24 balls by Gerhard Erasmus. The star opener smashed six fours and five sixes.

"I think we got a good total on the board, but we could have done much better at the back end. But at the same point, I want to give credit to their bowlers as well because they executed the balls pretty well in the death overs, and it was not so easy for our batters to go for big shots. So yeah, credit goes to them as well. Starting, I felt the wicket was a bit sticky, I had to take my time, and when I got the rhythm, it was my side, and I was supposed to get the momentum going," Kishan said at the mid-innings break.

After losing a couple of more wickets in quick succession, India were reduced to 124/4 in the 12th over. However, the recovery was made by Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube. The duo brought back the momentum for the Men in Blue and stitched an 81-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Hardik smashed a brilliant fifty and went on to play a magnificent knock of 52 runs in 28 balls, hitting four boundaries and as many sixes.

India, however, lost five wickets for just four runs towards the end after they were going strong at 199 for four at the start of the 19th over. Using plenty of variations, Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus returned excellent figures of 4/20 from his full quota of four overs.

India vs Namibia Playing XIs, ICC T20 World Cup 2026:

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, Malan Kruger, Zane Green(w), Ruben Trumpelmann, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo, Max Heingo