An all-rounder performance from Hardik Pandya has got the spotlight during India’s thumping win against Namibia at Arun Jaitley Stadium.
His fifty-two-wicket haul played a major role in India’s 93-run victory in the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash played on February 12.
By this win, India retained their top spot in Group A of the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 points table.
After being invited to bat first, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson opened the innings while Ruben Trumpelmann opened the bowling attack.
Sanju Samson, who made an aggressive start, was dismissed by Ben Shikongo for 22 runs. With Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma at the crease, India scored 86 runs in the power play.
Gerhard Eramsus picked the wicket of Ishan Kishan, who scored 61 runs off 24 deliveries, which included 6 fours and 5 sixes.
With Bernard dismissed, Suryakumar Yadav for 12 runs, Erasmus bagged the wicket of Tilak Varma for 25 runs, and India lost four wickets for 124 runs.
However, Hardik Pandya made a stunning fifty as he scored 52 runs off 28 deliveries, which included 4 fours and 4 sixes.
Shivam Dube whos made a cameo, got dismissed for 23 runs on a runout. After the duo’s dismissal, India struggled as they failed to capture the last three overs.
Fire with the bat 🔥
Clinical with the ball 👌Hardik Pandya is the Player of the Match for his all-round brilliance 🫡
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/SQLoaZjq98#TeamIndia | #T20WorldCup | #MenInBlue | #INDvNAM | @hardikpandya7 pic.twitter.com/vdPHv7rgBn
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 12, 2026
By the end of 20 overs, India scored 209 runs for 9 wickets. Gerhard Erasmus bagged four wickets while Ben Shikongo, JJ Smit and Bernard Scholtz dismissed 1 wicket each.
Chasing the target of 210 runs, Louren Steenkamp and Jan Frylinck opened the innings while Hardik Pandya opened the bowling attack.
The Namibia openers made a decent start, scoring 33 runs before Jan Frylinck was dismissed for 22 runs by Arshdeep Singh.
With Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton and Louren Steenkamp at crease, Namibia scored 57 runs in the powerplay.
Louren Steenkamp scored 29 runs before Varun Chakravarthy sent him back to the dugout. Varun Chakravarthy went on to bag the wickets of Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton and JJ Smith in the 10th over for 13 and 0, respectively.
Gerhard Erasmus added 18 runs while Zane Green added 11 runs to Namibia’s scoreboard.
Hardik Pandya bagged the wickets of Bernard Scholtz and Ben Shikongo for 4 and 0 as Namibia lost all 10 wickets for scoring 116 runs in the 19th over.
Hardik Pandya was named the Player of the Match. Speaking on the post-match conference, Pandya said, “Yeah, definitely, just enjoying the sport. Had a good couple of months to prepare and, you know, get the rhythm and, you know, get the body right. Thus far, everything is going well. (on his batting) Yes, I’ve always taken pride in my batting as an all-rounder.”
India will be preparing to face their greatest rival, Pakistan, on February 15 at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
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