Published: Feb 13, 2026, 12:00 AM (IST)
Edited: Feb 13, 2026, 06:42 AM (IST)
India posted a commanding 209/9 in their Group A clash against Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on Thursday, powered by explosive half-centuries from Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya. In the process, the Men in Blue shattered a 12-year-old world record and achieved several milestones in T20 World Cup history.
Ishan Kishan led the charge with a blistering 61 off 24 balls with 6 fours, 5 sixes, while Hardik Pandya played a destructive 52 off 28 balls with 4 fours, 4 sixes. Kishan added 79 runs off 31 balls for the second wicket with Tilak Varma 25, giving India a flying start. Pandya then stitched 81 runs off 39 balls with Shivam Dube 23, accelerating in the death overs and setting a challenging target.
India smashed the fastest team 100 in T20 World Cup history, reaching the milestone in just 6.5 overs. This broke the previous record held by the Netherlands, who scored 100 in 7 overs against Ireland in Sylhet in 2014 – a mark that had stood for 12 years. India’s aggressive powerplay and middle-overs intent completely rewrote the record books.
India also posted their highest-ever powerplay score in T20 World Cup history, racing to 87 runs in 6 overs. This surpassed their previous best of 82 against Scotland in 2021.
Ishan Kishan’s explosive knock saw him equal Rohit Sharma’s rare achievement of scoring two powerplay fifties in T20Is. His 20-ball fifty included a massive 28-run over against JJ Smit (4 sixes and 1 four), showcasing fearless power-hitting.
With 209/9, India registered their fourth 200-plus score in T20 World Cup history, further cementing their reputation as one of the most dangerous batting units in the tournament.
India’s record-breaking display against Namibia sends a strong message ahead of their upcoming blockbuster clash against Pakistan. The blistering start and milestone-breaking batting performance highlight the firepower in the Indian lineup as they chase a deep run in the T20 World Cup 2026.
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