New Delhi, Feb 13: India’s campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup gathered momentum with a commanding victory over Namibia, as a dominant batting display was complemented by disciplined bowling here at Arun Jaitley Stadium.
India defeated Namibia by 93 runs to go at the top of points table in Group A.
Following the win, Varun Chakaravarthy expressed confidence ahead of the high-stakes clash against Pakistan, while JioStar experts Abhishek Nayar and Irfan Pathan broke down key performances from Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan.
Varun’s Evolution at the International Level
Speaking on JioHotstar’s Haier Match Centre Live, Chakaravarthy detailed the adjustments he has made to thrive in T20Is.
“At the international level, I don’t have the space to get my rhythm back. I need to be in rhythm from the very first ball. I’ve been working on that for a long time because I don’t want my first ball to be an easy one. From ball one, I have to be on target,” he said.
The mystery spinner emphasised the technical refinements behind his recent success. “I’ve also worked on making my variations quicker so that batters have less time to react. I’m working on my overspin. When the overspin comes out correctly, there is zip off the wicket and the ball skids off the pitch.”
His ability to strike in the middle overs has become a defining feature of India’s bowling blueprint in the tournament, giving the team control during the most volatile phase of a T20 innings.
“We Have the Edge Over Pakistan”
Looking ahead to the marquee encounter, Chakaravarthy made a bold statement. “We have a strong spin attack, and I feel we have the edge over them. They are playing in these conditions back to back, so they might have an advantage in terms of familiarity. But as a group, we have had the better of them, and we are well prepared,” he said.
He added that belief will be critical in a global event. “Whenever you are playing any opponent in a World Cup, you need to keep your confidence high. You have to believe that you are the best in the world, that’s when you deliver in the biggest moments.”
With India’s spin unit firing, the upcoming clash promises to hinge on match-ups and middle-overs control.
Abhishek Sharma’s X-Factor in the Powerplay
JioStar expert Abhishek Nayar highlighted the importance of Abhishek Sharma at the top of the order, particularly against spin. “In the Powerplay, you know what he can do against spin, he loves playing spin. His strike-rate against both, spin and pace, is high, and he loves using his feet,” Nayar said.
He pointed out that Abhishek’s reputation forces bowlers to rethink their plans. “Interestingly, his reputation always precedes him because you expect him to do something special. As a bowler, that changes your mindset completely.”
Nayar also stressed the need for adaptability in unfamiliar conditions, urging India to focus on assessing situations rather than overthinking pitch behaviour.
Ishan Kishan’s Confidence and Namibia’s Missed Plans
Ishan Kishan’s fluent knock also drew praise from Irfan Pathan, who analysed both the batter’s strengths and Namibia’s tactical shortcomings.
“He plays the short ball really well and has a lot of time while playing it. He looked very confident. Since his comeback, he has scored a lot of runs in domestic cricket, and he carried that form here,” Pathan observed.
However, he felt Namibia failed to test Kishan adequately. “The only thing I was disappointed with in Namibia’s bowling was that they didn’t make him play enough on the off side. If you look at the wagon wheel, the majority of his runs came on the leg side, starting from long-on, and that’s his strength.”
Pathan added that while Kishan has improved his off-side game, opposition bowlers must still challenge him rather than allowing him to settle into his preferred scoring zones.
Momentum Building Ahead of the Big Clash
With a confident spin spearhead, aggressive top-order options and growing clarity in roles, India appear to be building rhythm at the right time in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. As Chakaravarthy boldly declared, belief and preparation could be the difference when India face Pakistan in one of the tournament’s most anticipated encounters.