India prepare for Pakistan showdown after Namibia game

India face Namibia in their second Group A T20 World Cup game, with Abhishek Sharma recovering from illness and Sanju Samson set for a chance. The defending champions aim for a dominant win before the high-pressure Pakistan clash on Sunday

New Delhi: Abhishek Sharma’s stomach infection poses a bigger concern for India than their World Cup opponents Namibia.

After a stuttering batting performance on a tacky Wankhede track in the opener against the USA, the Indian batting line-up will look to go all guns blazing on a Feroz Shah Kotla pitch expected to favour quality teams.

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Namibia are not expected to trouble the defending champions in their second Group A game of the T20 showpiece on Thursday.

India, light years ahead in quality, view the Namibia clash as an extended warm-up, hoping to bat first and give the line-up valuable time in the middle.

Abhishek was discharged on Wednesday after two days of hospitalisation but may not be risked before the high-voltage Pakistan game on Sunday.

The Namibia match could be an opportunity for Sanju Samson to regain form after recent failures. “Sanju is feeling well again, understanding where he fits into the scheme of things now as an injury replacement,” assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said.

Namibia’s batters face a daunting task against Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy and Hardik Pandya. Out of their top six, only JJ Smit has a strike rate above 140.

Ten Doeschate hinted that Chakravarthy may unveil new deliveries during the game.

The ICC scheduling has ensured India face relatively weaker opponents in the group stage, with Pakistan being the only marquee clash. Even if that game goes awry, India are expected to reach the Super Eight comfortably.

Teams (from):

India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohd Siraj, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Rinku Singh.

Namibia: Gerhard Erasmus (captain), Jan Balt, Zane Green (wk), Malan Kruger, Dylan Leicher, Lauren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, William Myburgh, JJ Smit, Jack Brassel, Max Heingo, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo, Ruben Trumpelmann.

Match starts: 7 pm.