India were made to work by the USA in their opening game of the tournament on an awkward Wankhede pitch. They slipped to 77/6 after batting first before captain Suryakumar Yadav played a superb unbeaten 84 off 48 balls, with ten fours and four sixes, to lift the total to 161/9. Mohammed Siraj, drafted in because of Jasprit Bumrah’s illness and Harshit Rana’s injury, took 3/29, and Arshdeep Singh (2/18) and Axar Patel (2/24) helped complete a 29-run win.
There are some fitness doubts. Abhishek Sharma is unwell and Bumrah could be rested again, with Sanju Samson the likely replacement at the top if a change is needed. That call may wait until close to the start, and India are otherwise expected to keep a largely unchanged side.
Namibia lost their first match to the Netherlands in Delhi after posting 156/8. Nicol Loftie-Eaton made 42 off 38 and Jan Frylinck 30 off 26, but wickets fell in a cluster late on and the death overs were not used well. In defence they were let down by a dropped catch of Colin Ackermann, and the Netherlands won in 18 overs. Ruben Trumpelmann and Bernard Scholtz were their best bowlers, a wicket apiece.
With their Super Eight hopes at stake, Namibia will need a far more aggressive start with the bat, tighter bowling and sharper fielding. Another defeat could effectively end their campaign.
