New Delhi, Feb 10 (NationPress) India intensified their training for the upcoming 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup match against Namibia with a comprehensive practice session held under the lights at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday, just two days before the Group A league match.

There was positive news for the home team as pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah bowled at full speed, exhibiting no signs of the illness that sidelined him during the opening game against the USA in Mumbai the previous week. Bumrah began with a cautious run-up before unleashing a fierce spell directed at captain Suryakumar Yadav. He bowled for approximately 25 minutes and demonstrated consistent sharpness.

However, left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma missed the session as he continues to recover from a stomach issue, casting uncertainty on his participation for Thursday’s match. The left-hander played against the USA in Mumbai but did not score and has been struggling with his health since. With Wednesday’s practice still pending, it is unclear whether he will be hurried back into the squad.

Suryakumar and Tilak Varma looked impressive, particularly against wrist spinner Varun Chakravarthy. Suryakumar executed a slog sweep effortlessly, while Tilak hit a towering six that soared into the top tier, earning praise from his teammates.

Sanju Samson, who has recently lost his opening position, batted for more than thirty minutes against the pace attack. He started cautiously but gained confidence, lofting a shot over extra cover off Hardik Pandya and executing a powerful flick against Arshdeep Singh.

Samson later appeared much more confident against spin, stepping out to face Varun and Axar Patel. This is a promising development given Namibia’s propensity to employ left-arm spinner Bernard Scholtz during the powerplay, especially if Abhishek is not available.

Returning from a side strain and rib injury, off-spin all-rounder Washington Sundar participated in fielding drills and later bowled alongside Kuldeep Yadav to Varma. He was seen engaging in lengthy discussions with head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar, as the team continues to assess his recovery.

Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, and Hardik Pandya batted later in the session. With Bumrah back to his full rhythm, Washington reintegrating into the setup, and Abhishek still recuperating, India’s management faces crucial selection decisions ahead of Thursday’s match against Namibia, thankfully having an extra day to finalize their playing eleven.