India A Secures Commanding 130-Run Victory Over Namibia in T20 World Cup Warm-Up
In a dominant display of cricketing prowess, India A defeated Namibia by a massive 130 runs in a warm-up match ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 on Friday. The match served as a crucial preparatory fixture for both teams, with India A showcasing their batting depth and bowling strength.
India A's Impressive Batting Performance
India A batted first after winning the toss and posted a formidable total of 197/8 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was anchored by a spectacular third-wicket partnership between Naman Dhir and Riyan Parag, who added 111 runs together after India A lost two early wickets.
Riyan Parag was particularly destructive, scoring 69 runs off just 39 balls, while Naman Dhir contributed a valuable 39 off 29 deliveries. Later in the innings, Ashutosh Sharma provided the finishing touches with a quickfire 35 runs from 21 balls, ensuring India A reached a challenging total.
For Namibia, bowlers Max Heingo (2/30) and Ruben Trumpelmann (2/44) managed to pick up crucial wickets but couldn't contain the flow of runs from the Indian batters.
Namibia's Batting Collapse
In response, Namibia's batting lineup crumbled under pressure, being bowled out for a mere 67 runs in just 12.1 overs. Dylan Leicher was the only Namibian batsman to show some resistance, scoring 22 runs, but no other player managed to reach the 20-run mark.
The Indian bowling attack was relentless and clinical. Mayank Yadav (2/17), Gurjanpreet Singh (2/6), Ashok Sharma (2/8), and Vipraj Nigam (2/17) all contributed with two wickets each, dismantling the Namibian batting order efficiently.
Recent Warm-Up Match Results
This victory follows India A's previous warm-up match against the United States on February 2, where they scored an impressive 238/3 and restricted the USA to 200 runs, securing a 38-run win.
Meanwhile, India's senior team also played a warm-up match against South Africa on February 4. The senior team posted 240/6 in 20 overs, with Ishan Kishan scoring 53 runs. South Africa managed 210/7 in response, giving India a 30-run victory.
T20 World Cup 2026 Context
India enters the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 as defending champions, aiming for another historic tournament victory. The team is placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, the United States, the Netherlands, and Namibia.
The tournament officially begins on February 7, with India's senior team scheduled to play their first group match against the USA at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The warm-up matches have provided valuable preparation for both the senior and A teams as they gear up for the global competition.
The T20 World Cup 2026 promises to be an exciting tournament with defending champions India looking to maintain their dominance in the shortest format of the game. The warm-up matches have demonstrated the depth of Indian cricket talent across both senior and developmental squads.
