T20 World Cup: India make big changes in clash against Namibia, suspense ends over Abhishek; know playing XIs

IND vs NAM, T20 World Cup 2026: Namibia won the toss and elected to bowl first in their T20 World Cup 2026 clash against India, being played at the Arun Jaitley stadium in New Delhi on February 12. India made multiple changes to their playing XI. Abhishek Sharma missed out on the match as he is yet to recover from stomach issue. Sanju Samson has been included in the final XI in place of Abhishek. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah walked into India's playing XI in place of Mohammed Siraj.

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What did the captains say after the toss?

India captain Suryakumar Yadav, after losing the toss, said:

"We were looking to bat first. Very happy with it. As long as we are losing the toss and winning the game, we are fine with it. Dew is going to be a big factor, but when you go out and defend totals, it gives you confidence. Abhishek is still not fine, he will miss a game or two. Sanju comes in, similar batter, explosive. Bumrah comes in for Siraj."

Meanwhile, Namibia skipper Gerhard Erasmus, after winning the toss, said:

"We are going to have a bowl. It is a very good flat cricketing surface, from a surface and dew point of view it is the right thing to do. It is about tightening our skillset. Looks like a good wicket, try and chase it in the second half. That's why we play cricket, to entertain. We have two changes."

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India (Playing XI):

Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan(w), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah

Namibia (Playing XI):

Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus(c), JJ Smit, Zane Green(w), Ruben Trumpelmann, Malan Kruger, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo, Max Heingo

Pitch Report:

"There's a longer boundary to the off side of the rhb on the Willingdon end. Nick Knight says it looks flat, with a sheen. Don't see a huge amount of bounce. There a few cracks but they're not moving. Dew can be a factor, there is a breeze around, which might negate it a bit," Ian Smith and Nick Night analysed the pitch.