India crush Namibia by 93 runs in Delhi; register biggest victory by runs in T20 World Cup | Cricket News

Varun Chakravarthy, second left, celebrates with teammate Ishan Kishan the wicket of Namibia’s Nicol Loftie-Eaton, right, during the T20 World Cup cricket match between India and Namibia in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP)

NEW DELHI: India defeated Namibia by 93 runs in their group-stage match of the T20 World Cup in New Delhi on Thursday, registering their second consecutive win in the tournament.This was India’s biggest victory by runs in the history of the T20 World Cup. Asked to bat first, India posted 209 for nine in 20 overs, powered by half-centuries from Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya.Kishan scored 61 off 24 balls, hitting his fifty in 20 deliveries. Pandya made 52 from 28 balls and added 81 runs for the fifth wicket with Shivam Dube, who contributed 23 off 16 balls. Sanju Samson had earlier given India a quick start with 22 off eight balls.India reached 100 in the seventh over before Namibia struck back. Captain Gerhard Erasmus finished with figures of 4 for 20 in four overs. He dismissed Kishan on his first ball when the batter mistimed a shot to deep mid-wicket. Bernard Scholtz removed Suryakumar Yadav for 12, and Erasmus claimed another wicket by dismissing Tilak Varma for 25.Pandya and Dube then rebuilt the innings and counterattacked. Pandya was eventually dismissed by Erasmus, with substitute fielder Dylan Leicher completing the catch near the boundary after running in and tossing the ball back inside the field before finishing it. India lost a few wickets in the final overs.In reply, Namibia were bowled out for 116 in 18.2 overs. Some batters got starts but could not convert them into big scores. Louren Steenkamp top-scored with 29. Varun Chakravarthy returned figures of 3 for 7 in two overs.India had earlier defeated the United States in their Group A opener. They will next play Pakistan on Sunday in Colombo in one of the high-profile matches of the 20-team tournament. Earlier this week, the Pakistan government reversed its decision to boycott the match following tensions.Biggest victory margins for India at T20 WC (by runs)

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; Varun Chakravarthy 3/7).