New Delhi | February 12, 2026 : The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 shifts its focus to the historic Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, where defending champions India take on a spirited Namibia in a crucial Group A encounter. With India looking to solidify their path to the Super Eights and Namibia fighting for survival, this day-night clash promises high-octane drama.
Match Overview: Favorites vs. Underdogs
India enters Match 18 as the heavy favorites, currently enjoying a record-breaking nine-match winning streak in T20 World Cups. Following a hard-fought 29-run victory over the USA, the Men in Blue are keen to iron out their top-order inconsistencies.
Namibia, led by the veteran Gerhard Erasmus, displayed incredible grit in their opening loss to the Netherlands. For the African nation, today isn’t just a match; it’s a chance to pull off the greatest upset in T20 history on Indian soil.
Match Details
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Fixture: India vs Namibia, Match 18, Group A
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Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
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Time: 7:00 PM IST (Toss at 6:30 PM)
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Live Stream: JioHotstar
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Broadcast: Star Sports Network
Team News: Bumrah Returns, Abhishek Sharma Doubtful
The biggest boost for India is the return of Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the previous game due to a viral fever. His presence at the death will be vital. However, concerns remain over young opener Abhishek Sharma. While he has been discharged from the hospital following a stomach infection, his match fitness is being monitored. If he is unavailable, expect Sanju Samson or Tilak Varma to step up.
Expert Insight: “The Delhi surface is a batter’s dream. With short boundaries, India’s power-hitters like Suryakumar Yadav—who has 360 runs in his last 10 innings—could target a 200+ total.”
Probable Playing XIs
| India | Namibia |
| Suryakumar Yadav (C) | Gerhard Erasmus (C) |
| Sanju Samson (wk) / Ishan Kishan | Louren Steenkamp |
| Abhishek Sharma / Tilak Varma | Jan Frylinck |
| Hardik Pandya | Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton |
| Rinku Singh | JJ Smit |
| Shivam Dube | Zane Green (wk) |
| Axar Patel | Ruben Trumpelmann |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Bernard Scholtz |
| Arshdeep Singh | Ben Shikongo |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Dylan Leicher |
| Varun Chakravarthy | Jack Brassell |
Pitch & Weather Report: A Batting Paradise
The Arun Jaitley Stadium is renowned for its flat tracks and lightning-fast outfield.
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Average 1st Innings Score: 185
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Weather: Clear skies with temperatures between 20-25°C.
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Dew Factor: While common in New Delhi, the cooler February breeze is expected to keep the dew minimal, making the toss less influential than usual.
Head-to-Head & Match Prediction
India holds a 100% win record against Namibia, including a dominant 130-run victory in the recent warm-up fixtures.
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Win Probability: India (98%), Namibia (2%)
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Key Battle: Ruben Trumpelmann vs. India’s Top Order. If Namibia can strike early, they might stay in the hunt; otherwise, India’s depth will likely prove too much.
PingTV Prediction: India to win comfortably and secure their spot in the next round.
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