India will take on Namibia under the leadership of Gerhard Erasmus in Match No. 18 of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Thursday, February 12. This will be the second match for the Men in Blue in the marquee tournament, and they will be hoping to continue their winning momentum.
India and Namibia have been placed in Group A along with Pakistan, USA and Netherlands. Victory in this match will help the host team strengthen their position in the points table. The top two teams from the group will advance to the Super 8 of the tournament, making every game important.
This article provides information about the probable playing XIs of India and Namibia for the 18th match of the tournament, possible team combinations and key players to watch out for in Delhi.
India Playing XI vs Namibia, Match No. 18
Openers: Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan
India are likely to continue opening with Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan. The pair failed to advance against the US, but the team management is expected to give them more chances to prove their worth.
They will look to handle the new ball and score runs freely against the Namibian fast bowlers during the powerplay. A strong start may keep Sanju Samson on the reserve bench for a while.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Tilak Verma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dubey, Akshar Patel.
Tilak Verma is expected to bat at number three, while captain Suryakumar Yadav will start the innings at number four. Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey and Rinku Singh will share the closing roles.
Spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been left out of the playing eleven with the inclusion of Rinku Singh despite spin-friendly conditions in Delhi. Axar Patel, who can float through the batting order, strikes a balance with both bat and ball.
Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakraborty, Arshdeep Singh
India is facing a selection dilemma with the return of star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. Despite taking three wickets in the last match, Mohammad Siraj can be dropped. Varun Chakravarthy will lead the spin attack along with Axar Patel.
India’s playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Tilak Verma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakraborty, Arshdeep Singh.
Namibia Playing XI vs India, Match No. 18
Openers: Jan Frylinck and Lauren Steenkamp
Namibia are likely to select Jan Frylinck and Lauren Steenkamp as the opening pair. Frylink will look to attack the opposition, while Steenkamp will aim to score innings.
The pair provides a left-right combination and will look to dominate the Indian new ball attack. If they get going, they can put huge pressure on the bowlers in the powerplay.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Malan Kruger, Gerhard Erasmus (captain), John Nicol Lofty-Eaton, JJ Smit, Zane Green (wicketkeeper)
Captain Gerhard Erasmus anchors the lineup. The middle order is loaded with power hitters, with Jan Nicole Lofty-Eaton and JJ Smit capable of clearing the ball with ease. Smit will play a key finishing role, while Zane Green will take over the gloves.
Bowlers: Ruben Trumpelmann, Bernard Scholtz, Max Hengo, Willem Myburgh
The bowling attack will be led by Ruben Trumpelman, a left-arm fast bowler who can swing the new ball and contribute with the bat lower down the order. Experienced Bernard Scholtz will take charge of the spin, which will be important on the Delhi surface. Willem Myburgh is expected to complete the attack.
Namibia Playing XI: Jan Frylinck, Lauren Steenkamp, Malan Kruger, Gerhard Erasmus (c), Jan Nicol Lofty-Eaton, JJ Smit, Zane Green (wk), Ruben Trumpelman, Bernard Scholtz, Max Hengo, Willem Myburgh.
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