India vs Namibia Preview: Abhishek Sharma Hospitalized, Samson to Open
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India vs Namibia
Match 18 • Arun Jaitley Stadium • Today 7 PM
New Delhi: The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 group stages heat up tonight as India faces Namibia in the capital. Following a nervy win against the USA, the Men in Blue are looking for a dominant performance to boost their Net Run Rate in Group A.
🚨 Breaking News: Opener Abhishek Sharma has been hospitalized due to a severe stomach infection. He is definitely ruled out of today's match. Sanju Samson will replace him in the playing XI.
Sanju Samson (left) is expected to open the batting alongside Ishan Kishan today.
Expected Playing XI
With Sharma out, the management will likely pair Samson with Ishan Kishan to maintain a left-right opening combination, though Suryakumar Yadav could also promote himself.
Likely India XI: Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh.
The Arun Jaitley Stadium is expected to be a batting paradise tonight, with dew playing a major role in the second innings.
Verified 15-Member Squads (2026)
Below is the official squad list submitted to the ICC. Note: Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant are not part of this tournament roster.
| 🇮🇳 INDIA (Official 15) | 🇳🇦 NAMIBIA (Official 15) |
|---|---|
|
Suryakumar Yadav C Hardik Pandya VC Abhishek Sharma (Injured) Tilak Varma Rinku Singh Sanju Samson (wk) Ishan Kishan (wk) Shivam Dube Axar Patel Washington Sundar Jasprit Bumrah Arshdeep Singh Mohammed Siraj Kuldeep Yadav Varun Chakaravarthy |
Gerhard Erasmus C JJ Smit VC Zane Green (wk) Michael van Lingen Nikolaas Davin Malan Kruger Jan Frylinck David Wiese Ruben Trumpelmann Bernard Scholtz Ben Shikongo Tangeni Lungameni Jack Brassell JP Kotze Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the head-to-head record between India and Namibia?
India and Namibia have played each other only once in T20Is (during the 2021 T20 World Cup). India won that match by 9 wickets.
Q: Will rain affect the match in Delhi today?
No, the forecast for Delhi is clear. However, heavy dew is expected in the evening, which will make bowling difficult in the second innings.
Q: Why are Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant not playing?
Neither Gill nor Pant was selected for the final 15-member World Cup squad. The selectors opted for openers like Abhishek Sharma and finishers like Rinku Singh instead.
Q: Where can I watch the live telecast?
The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network and streamed on the Disney+ Hotstar app starting at 7:00 PM IST.
Q: Who is the favorite to win?
India enters the contest as heavy favorites due to their home advantage and superior ranking, despite the injury to opener Abhishek Sharma.