Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Namibia all-rounder Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton said the pressure will be on defending champions India when the two sides meet in their T20 World Cup match on Thursday. He said his team will approach the game with freedom as they have nothing to lose.Namibia head into the contest after losing their opening match to the Netherlands on Tuesday. India, meanwhile, began their campaign with a win over the USA in Mumbai.
“Playing India in India is massive, pressure is on India to be honest, home crowd advantage, home ground advantage as well. We are going in with nothing to lose to be honest. We are going there to showcase our talents and abilities, hopefully it comes up on that day,” Loftie-Eaton was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.“We just gotta back our skills given our day and we have done our homework, lot of tactical talks going around. We just have to back our skills on the given day. T20 is a funny game anything can happen.”The 24-year-old, who has featured in 51 ODIs and 52 T20Is, said the sport is expanding in Namibia.“It’s becoming people’s massive choice. We had a game against South Africa at our newly inaugurated ground where 5000 people came to watch and it was the first time.“It is definitely growing in the right direction. So we just have to carry that momentum forward and keep on going the game and become one of the biggest associate countries in the nation.”Loftie-Eaton said Namibia are aiming to achieve Test status in the future.“We have to set higher goals and highest standards. Definitely the South Africa win has put us on the map, but we have been on the map in the last few years, we have had some pretty good consistent World Cup last few years,” he said.In October 2025, Namibia defeated a South Africa side by four wickets in a T20I in Windhoek, with Loftie-Eaton part of that squad.“It is just about carrying it forward and getting better everyday and every year and that is something we looking to achieve, becoming a Test playing nation and it is any players dream to put on the whites for your country.”
