The last time India and Namibia met in the T20 World Cup, it was in 2021 when the Namibians had qualified for the Super 12 and India were already knocked out of the World Cup. But when the two teams come up against each other tonight (February 12), the situation is completely different. No team is out of contention and Namibia would be seeking inspiration from fellow Associate side USA to try and make a match out of the contest at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
To do so, they will need these five players to fire big time.z
Gerhard Erasmus (Captain & All-rounder)
Erasmus, a gritty middle-order batter and a clever off-spinner, had a great outing in the 2025 season, notching up multiple fifties against fellow African nations Zimbabwe and Kenya in the qualifier tournament for the World Cup. Captain of the side, he will be someone India would have to have a keen eye on. The man has a T20I century to his name and would love to make the most of dewy conditions, which favour batting big time in a relatively small Delhi ground.
T20I Stats: 1,851 runs (Avg: 31.00) | 58 wickets (Econ: 5.91)
Performance vs India: In their only previous T20I meeting, Erasmus was the top scorer for the Eagles, making a hard-fought 12 on a difficult pitch.
JJ Smit (All-rounder)
Smit, a clean striker of the ball and a left-arm seamer thriving in the death overs, will have a big role to play if Namibia are to cause any worry to the Indian side. His long levers work multidirectional, making him a dangerous prospect with the willow in hand.
T20I Stats: 1,211 runs (SR: 147.86) | 66 wickets (Avg: 16.39)
Performance vs India: Though the 30-year-old struggled in the 2021 encounter, he has peak form heading into the game. The right-handed marauder of the white leather hit a century in just 39 balls against Kenya in the 2025 T20 World Cup Qualifier. His left-arm angle will also be tricky against Indian openers, as Sanju Samson is likely to play as an opener.
Ruben Trumpelmann (Left-arm Fast)
World Cup lovers will not be able to forget when Ruben Trumpelmann cleaned up then-England skipper Jos Buttler with a beauty in the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies. A tall pacer who can generate pace and bounce and can swing the ball both ways will always be trouble for the Indian batters. Under lights, he will be even more dangerous.
T20I Stats: 49 wickets | Best Figures: 4/21
Performance vs India: He was unable to get a wicket when he last played against India in the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE.
Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (All-rounder)
An all-rounder who bowls leg spin and can smack the ball big time? At any given point in T20s, this signals danger, and that’s what Loftie-Eaton brings to the table. He had to his name the fastest T20I century, which he scored in only 33 balls against Nepal in 2024. Later on, it was broken by players from Estonia and Turkey.
T20I Stats: 850+ runs | 35 wickets
Performance vs India: This will be his first major T20I against India’s primary squad. But he comes with the pedigree of both batting and bowling, having been named “Bowler of the Tournament” in the Africa Qualifiers for the T20 World Cup 2026.
Bernard Scholtz (Left-arm Spinner)
Last in the list, but someone who can never be considered the least troublesome, is left-arm spinner Bernard Scholtz. A veteran of over 75 T20Is, the tweaker hardly gives room for batters to take charge. With so many left-handers in the Indian side, it would be interesting to see if he can trouble them.
T20I Stats: 79 wickets | Economy: 6.20
Performance vs India: Scholtz bowled a tidy spell in 2021, conceding only 26 runs in his 4 overs.