Namibia will not start as favorites when they take on Suryakumar Yadav’s India in the T20 World Cup at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday, February 12. However, due to their steady rise and competitive performances over the years, they are capable of producing moments of brilliance when facing the two-time champions.
Namibia’s only previous meeting with India came in the 2021 T20 World Cup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, where they suffered a nine-wicket defeat after India chased down 133 in just 15.2 overs. This edition marked Namibia’s first appearance at the T20 World Cup and the 2026 tournament is now their fourth consecutive outing on the global stage.
ICC T20 World Cup 12th February Match Preview
Several members of the 2021 team remain part of the current line-up, including Gerhard Erasmus, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, JJ Smit, Bernard Scholtz and Ruben Trumpelmann. Despite enduring a tough game against the Netherlands in New Delhi on Tuesday, Namibia now have an opportunity to regroup and produce a spirited performance against one of the tournament favourites.
Head to head
Matches – 1, India – 1, Namibia -0
Here are 5 players from Namibia who can pose a threat to India in the upcoming game
Ruben Trumpelmann
Ruben Trumpelmann is a bowler India will have to watch closely. He has a remarkable ability to dismiss right-handers, claiming 40 of his 50 T20I wickets against them. Sanju Samson, who could play against Namibia, will have to be especially careful.
Fortunately for India, they have some in-form left-handers, including Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma at the top of the order, who can help neutralize Trumpelmann’s threat. Of his 50 wickets in T20 internationals, 14 of them have come in the T20 World Cup, underscoring his ability to perform on the big stage.
To counter him, the Indian back four trained against the local left-arm pacer from Delhi on Tuesday. With a slight side-arm action, the Delhi cricketer established himself as a medium pacer in the nets alongside Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube.
JJ Smith
JJ Smit is Namibia’s leading all-rounder and a key match-winner for his side. A right-handed batsman and left-arm medium bowler, Smit has been a mainstay for the national team since his T20I debut in 2019. He has scored 1,211 runs at an average of 33.63 and a strike rate of 147.46, including four fifties and a best score of 1,111 not out against Kenya last year1.
With the ball, Smit was equally effective, taking 66 T20I wickets at an economy rate of 6.58, including five wickets, underscoring his true dual-threat ability. His match-deciding performances in the 2025 Africa T20 qualifiers helped Namibia secure World Cup qualification, highlighted by his remarkable figures of 4-1-10-6 against Uganda.
In Namibia’s recent T20 World Cup match against the Netherlands, Smit showed his intent again, scoring 22 off 15 balls, with one four and two sixes, before falling to Bas de Leede.
Bernard Scholtz
Bernard Scholtz is one of Namibia’s most effective and experienced T20I bowlers and will be a key threat for India in the upcoming clash. Scholtz has taken 80 wickets in 77 matches at an economy of 6.18, underscoring his ability to control runs and deliver consistent breakthroughs. He is also Namibia’s top T20I wicket-taker.
Scholtz is often used early in the innings, including the power play, where his accuracy, flight and subtle variations can trouble even the best batsmen by forcing errors and slowing scoring.
In Namibia’s recent match against the Netherlands, Scholtz bowled his full four overs, taking the crucial wicket of Max O’Dowd and conceding only 27 runs.
Against a strong Indian batting line-up, Scholtz’s disciplined left-arm spin, clever variations and experience make him a bowler India cannot afford to underestimate.
Jan Frylinck
Jan Frylinck is a dual threat for Namibia and excels with both bat and ball as one of the key players. The left-handed batsman holds a 13-ball fifty, which he achieved against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo last year, making it the second-fastest T20I fifty against a full-fledged nation after Yuvraj Singh’s 12-ball effort against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup.
Frylinck also has a 65-ball 134 in T20Is, which shows he can be dangerous at the top of the order. Although he hasn’t bowled recently, he has 63 T20I wickets, including six wickets, and could be a threat if Namibia decide to use him. He scored 30 off 26 against the Netherlands before being dismissed by Logan van Beek.
Gerhard Erasmus
Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus is central to his side’s hopes against India as he provides stability and experience at the top of the order. As Namibia’s most prolific T20I batsman, he has scored over 1,851 runs at an average of 31.91 with a strike rate of 124.47, exemplifying in high-pressure situations.
Erasmus also contributes his off-spin, taking 58 wickets at an economy rate of 5.90, making him a real all-round threat and a key figure in Namibia’s batting and bowling balance.
In Namibia’s recent Group A match against the Netherlands at the World Cup, Erasmus scored 16 off 18 balls, part of Namibia’s total of 156. His leadership and all-round ability continue to be vital to Namibia’s challenge against stronger teams.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
February 12, 2026