Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has called for flatter wickets amid the team’s constant struggles against spin bowling in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. The men in blue once again failed to score freely in the middle overs during their second match of the tournament against Namibia in Delhi.
After a strong start, scoring 104 runs in the first seven overs, India suffered a dramatic collapse in the next 13 overs, managing just 105 runs for the loss of eight wickets. Following India’s batting strugglesPandya shared his views on the two-tiered nature of the wickets and suggested that it would be beneficial for the team to play on flatter surfaces.
“Yes, I think the two games back to back in the World Cup were a little bit, I wouldn’t say bats-friendly. We had to adapt. I think today, even when I went to bat, I felt like the wicket was holding a little bit. It was also holding low. But yeah, you know, in big tournaments, you just have to adapt to these wickets, but we’d like it to work a little bit differently. wickets,” Pandya said in post-match presentation.
Pandya again starred in Men in Blue with impressive all-round performanceplaying a key role in their commanding 93-run victory. The all-rounder scored a magnificent half-century and produced an aggressive knock of 52 off 28 balls, an innings studded with four fours and as many sixes.
A bigger challenge awaits in Colombo
With Shivam Dube, who contributed a handy 23 off 16 balls, he put together an amazing partnership of 81 runs off just 39 deliveries for the fifth wicket, helping India recover from a precarious position of 124/4 in 11.5 overs. Pandya brought up his half-century off just 27 deliveries by blasting Gerhard Erasmus for a towering six over deep mid-wicket. He later returned figures of 2/21 from four overs, clearing Namibia’s tail as the visitors were bowled out for 116 in 18.2 overs.
Meanwhile, as India continue to struggle with spin bowling, they are set to face a tough challenge against Pakistan in their next match, which will be played on a spin-friendly surface at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
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Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
February 13, 2026