India went on with their good form in the 2026 T20 World Cup, going to first place in Group A after a really good 93-run win against Namibia. The team, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, now has four points and a good net run rate; winning against Pakistan will make sure they get into the Super 8s before the other teams who want to.
Group A points and where teams stand
In Group A, India and Pakistan both have four points, but India are ahead on NRR at +3.050. Pakistan are next with an NRR of +0.932 after a win which didn’t help their run rate very much. Netherlands are third with two points and an NRR of +0.356, and will need some good results for them to go on. USA and Namibia have both lost their two games and are at the bottom. The USA – who got to the Super 8s in 2024 – have had a bad start to this competition, and Namibia have not won a game yet, and need to get things sorted out quickly if they want to still be able to qualify.
How well India played, and how much their NRR went up
India made 209 for 9 in their 20 overs, then quickly got Namibia all out for 116 in 18.2 overs, in Delhi. This big win took India’s net run rate to +3.050, which is a very important advantage in a group where teams are very close. Having a better NRR means India are in a good position before their important game against Pakistan.
After the game, Ishan Kishan said the team had just focused on getting ready in a simple way, and playing their game as they usually do. He said Namibia’s captain, Gerhard Erasmus, bowled well, but that India’s plan stays the same no matter who they are playing.
How good the batting is, and how bad they are against spin
Despite the good total, India clearly struggled against spin; half the batters got out to spin, showing a possible problem before they play harder spin attacks. This will be what they work on in training before the Pakistan game.
Pakistan have experienced spin bowlers and the tricky spinner Usman Tariq, who has got people’s attention because of how much his bowling changes. If India can’t find a good way to deal with good spin, the game could easily go Pakistan’s way, especially in the conditions in Colombo.
How Pakistan can get to the Super 8s and what problems they have
Pakistan are still in a good place with four points, but they have less room for mistakes. Their small win against the Netherlands didn’t help their net run rate much, and this could be what decides things if a lot of teams end up with the same number of points. Pakistan will have to find a balance between being aggressive and being careful, to keep their NRR up.
Usman Tariq and the spin bowling team could be Pakistan’s best chance. The team will try to make the most of India’s recent problems against spin, and also make sure their own batting doesn’t fall apart and hurt their run rate. Being tactically smart will be as important as just being good at the game in the group stage.
The India-Pakistan game and what it means
The India-Pakistan game on February 15 will be very important; the team who wins will probably be the first from Group A to get to the Super 8s. India are favourites going into the game, because they have been good lately, including winning against Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup and earlier T20 World Cup games, but what has happened before doesn’t matter on the day of the game.
Who the teams pick is also something to watch. India might not have Abhishek Sharma – who has a virus – and what Pakistan do with their tricky spinner will be looked at closely. The game in Colombo will test both teams when they are under pressure, and could set the way things go into the knockout stages.
What people watching and those who know about cricket should look for
Look at how India deal with spin in the first six overs and the middle overs, and whether Pakistan's spinners can get the ball to turn a lot or trick the batters. Net run rate will also be important, but not obvious, and will affect how both teams try to chase a total or defend a big one. Being tactically clever and playing well will decide who gets the first place in the Super 8s.
