IND vs NAM: What should India do if they win toss in match 18 of T20 World Cup 2026?
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India will play their second match of the T20 World Cup 2026 on February 12 against Namibia, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Defending champions India gear up for their second Group A encounter of T20 World Cup 2026 against Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday, February 12, starting 7 PM IST. After a gritty 29-run win over the USA in Mumbai, where Suryakumar Yadav’s heroic 84 rescued them from 77/6 to post over 161, India aim to assert dominance.
Namibia, meanwhile, suffered a seven-wicket defeat to the Netherlands in their opener, folding for 156/8 before the Dutch chased it down comfortably in 18 overs.
With Jasprit Bumrah back in nets after illness and Sanju Samson likely replacing the unwell Abhishek Sharma as opener alongside Ishan Kishan, India’s lineup looks potent. Namibia, led by Gerhard Erasmus, will rely on Jan Frylinck and Ruben Trumpelmann to challenge the hosts, but India’s spin duo of Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy could exploit the turning Delhi track.
The venue has hosted one match so far in the tournament: the day game between Namibia and the Netherlands on February 10, under sunny conditions with no dew influence.
Namibia batted first after losing the toss but managed only a modest total on a pitch offering assistance to spinners, as seen with Bas de Leede’s all-round show. The track proved high-scoring potential, with batters dominating once set, but the absence of evening moisture kept conditions balanced.
What should India do if they win the toss against Namibia?
Should Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav win the toss, he must have absolutely no hesitation to bowl first and chase. With the match being an evening affair, heavy dew is expected to set in post-sunset, making the ball slippery and harder for spinners to grip in the second innings.
This could ease batting under lights, as observed in practice sessions where dew coated the outfield by 9:30 PM. Historically, across the 9 T20Is played at Arun Jaitley, teams chasing have won majority of the times. Dew’s early onset in Delhi winters, tips the balance heavily towards the chasing team.
However, if anti-dew is sprayed across the outfield, the impact of moisture could be reduced. As seen in the opening days of the tournament, no team can be taken lightly, and both sides may prefer to chase in order to gain an early advantage.
When and where will IND vs NAM take place?
The match will be played on February 12 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, in New Delhi.
What should India do if they win the toss against Namibia?
India should bowl first, as evening dew in Delhi usually makes chasing easier and reduces the impact of spinners.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.