Fans react as Kishan, Hardik, and Varun power India to a commanding win despite a late collapse

However, this doesn’t diminish India’s record as their win against Namibia is still officially their largest margin of victory ever recorded in the T20 World Cup, with a 93-run margin of victory and was achieved through ferocious hitting at the start of the innings with the bat and very comprehensive bowling in the middle of the innings (throughout the duration of 20 overs).

India was dealt an early blow as Abhishek Sharma was unable to play the match due to sickness; this allowed Sanju Samson to get an opportunity to play at the top of the order (as an opener). The new opening batsman immediately made an impact on the match with 22 runs coming off only 8 balls (which included three sixes and one four) within the first four balls he faced. The innings had all of the early momentum going into the sixth over of the innings, thanks to his impact on the game with the bat before falling while trying to make a play for a fourth six.

Kishan Dominates the Power Play

Ishan Kishan took over in the batting aspect of the game and capitalised on the way the left-handed seamers of Namibia (Ruben Trumpelmann and JJ Smit) were bowling to him by consistently putting the ball over the boundary on the leg side and easily handling the seamers by putting the ball consistently into scoring positions. Kishan was extremely successful scoring 61 runs from 24 balls before the end of the six-over powerplay (where India scored an overall total of 86 runs for the loss of one wicket; thereby establishing not only the highest six-over total that has ever been scored in T20 World Cup competition but also reaching 100 runs in 6.5 overs; both of which were good indicators that India would post a large total).

With a remarkable performance, Kishan raced to 61 runs in 24 balls as India reached an incredible score of 86 after the end of Power Play, making Power Play the highest six-over scoring total in T20 World Cup history. In 6.5 overs, India also reached 100 runs, which foreshadowed a high total.

Erasmus and Scholtz Pull Things Back

Namibia found a way to stem the flow of runs with their captain Gerhard Erasmus’ off-spin bowling, evidenced by the fact that he first delivered his off-spin ball with grip even on a Delhi surface. He consequently took the wicket of Kishan on his very first ball, and not only slowed down the scoring rate for India but was able to set the tone for the rest of the innings.

Erasmus combined this successful wicket-taking effort with a highly effective effort to sustain a tight middle overs run-rate, sharing this success with left-arm spinner Bernard Scholtz. Together, Erasmus and Scholtz only gave India 30 runs during the 8th and 13th overs while also taking the wickets of Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma (forcing India to re-establish themselves following a very fast start).

Hardik Leads the Late Charge

The momentum swing in the death overs occurred when Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube looked to counterattack by targeting some of the returning seamers and attacking Scholtz’s final overs as they built a crucial partnership (scoring 65 runs for India) between overs 14 and 18.

Hardik hit his 50 in the 19th over with a huge six of Erasmus, which took India to 200.

Late Collapse Stalls India

Unfortunately, a dramatic collapse took place right after that, starting with Erasmus dismissing Hardik off the next ball, with substitute Dylan Leicher making a spectacular boundary catch. The over also included another wicket and a run-out, and the overall collapse continued as India lost five wickets for four runs in the last 11 deliveries.

Erasmus finished his spell with an impressive 4-0-20-2, and this performance helped restrict India to 209, which wasn’t close to the original 250+ total that looked possible early in the game.

Varun’s Spell Seals the Win

Namibia started their batting with aggression. Jan Frylinck and Louren Steenkamp were able to produce several boundaries in the opening innings of the game, with the score being 67 runs for 1 wicket in only 8 overs; thereby sustaining the hope that the contest was still very much alive.

The turning point of the game was provided by Varun Chakravarthy as he took apart the middle-order batsman of Namibia. Steenkamp was bowled by a beautiful, sharp wrong ‘un, and he quickly dismissed Erasmus as well, becoming the first bowler to take 3 wickets in under 10 balls, essentially ending the contest.

Zane Green and Trumpelmann tried to resist the domination by the Indian bowlers; however, there was just too much depth to India’s bowling. Jasprit Bumrah, bowling for the first time in the tournament due to illness, produced a trademark yorker to take a wicket, as well as Hardik Pandya wrapping up the innings with 2 wickets in the 18th over, resulting in a very convincing win for India.

Here’s How the Fans Reacted to the Game

Fans Appreciate Hardik-Dube’s Partnership

Both power hitters belting the Namibian Bowlers.

— balwant singh (@bmishru) February 12, 2026

Fans on Pandya and Dube’s Batting

🔥 Incredible hitting! Hardik & Shivam are unstoppable! 💥💪

— Sahil chabra (@sahii199) February 12, 2026

Twitter Reacts to Jasprit Bumrah’s Bowling Performance vs Namibia

When Bumrah nails the yorker, it’s already over.
Unplayable. Unstoppable

— vikas Rokkam (@vikasrokkam04) February 12, 2026

Fans on Jasprit Bumrah

bumrah on fire with yorker magic

— Eliana 🇺🇸 (@eliana_usa) February 12, 2026

Fans React to Ishan Kishan’s Batting

Ishan Kishan just dismantled Namibia in 20 balls. 🏟️💨

6, 6, 6, 6, 4 — He is striking them as clean as a whistle. Colombo and Pakistan, watch out. The beast is awake and he’s hungry for runs! 🦁💪

— Hitman_hits (@Hitman_Hits264) February 12, 2026

Twitter on Kishan’s Lethal Batting

Is it a video game for him ?

6,6,6,6,4 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Gr1RGB4l8y

— Random Update (@xupdateshub) February 12, 2026

Cricket Fans React to Ishan Kishan’s Performance vs Namibia

Ishan woke up and chose violence 😤🔥
Powerplay ? More like Power-SLAY 💣
carnage mode ON 🚀
🇮🇳💙

— Sports Campus (@Raunakk_14) February 12, 2026

Fans Appreciate Arshdeep Singh’s Performance in T20Is

Arshdeep paaji is a 🐐 in this format

— Life between overs (@LifeOvers) February 12, 2026