BENGALURU, 06 February 2026 – India A and Namibia are currently facing off in a high-stakes warm-up fixture at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) 1 in Bengaluru. As both sides fine-tune their squads for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the match has already provided significant drama with India A recovering from an early batting collapse.
Match Update: India A Rebuilds After Early Shocks
In the ongoing contest today, India A captain Ayush Badoni won the toss and elected to bat first. The decision initially appeared risky as the Namibian bowling attack, led by Jan Frylinck and JJ Smit, exploited early morning conditions to claim two quick wickets. However, the middle order has since stabilised the innings.
According to latest reports from the ground, Riyan Parag and Naman Dhir are currently at the crease, guiding the recovery. Parag, coming off a strong domestic season, has looked aggressive against the spinners, while Dhir has provided steady support to ensure India A reaches a competitive total.
Squads and Key Players
The India A side for this warm-up series features a blend of IPL stars and emerging talent, while Namibia brings a settled veteran core that recently secured a morale-boosting 6-run victory over Scotland on 04 February.
| Team | Key Players / Squad Members |
|---|---|
| India A | Ayush Badoni (c), Riyan Parag, Tilak Varma, Narayan Jagadeesan, Khaleel Ahmed, Naman Dhir, Manav Suthar, Ashutosh Sharma. |
| Namibia | Gerhard Erasmus (c), Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Jan Frylinck, JJ Smit, Bernard Scholtz, Malan Kruger, Zane Green (wk). |
Tournament Context
This match serves as a critical precursor to the main tournament. While India A represents the depth of the co-hosting nation, the senior Indian team is scheduled to face Namibia in the group stages on 12 February 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Namibia enters this match with significant momentum. Beyond their recent win against Scotland, the “Eagles” have proven to be “giant-killers” in the T20 format, having recorded a historic victory over South Africa in October 2025. For India A, the focus remains on the fitness of Tilak Varma, who is making his return to the field after a recent injury layoff.
Head-to-Head History (T20 Internationals)
While India A and Namibia are meeting in this specific developmental capacity, the senior national teams have a limited but clear history in ICC events.
| Date | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 08 November 2021 | ICC T20 World Cup | India won by 9 wickets |
| 06 February 2026 | T20 WC Warm-up | Match in Progress |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the India A vs Namibia warm-up match being played?
The match is being held at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) 1 in Bengaluru, Australia/India time zones depending on broadcast, on Friday, 06 February 2026.
Who is leading the India A side?
Ayush Badoni is captaining the India A squad for this warm-up fixture, with Tilak Varma also returning to the lineup.
When does the official T20 World Cup match between India and Namibia take place?
The senior Indian national team will play Namibia in their Group A fixture on 12 February 2026 in Delhi.
How did Namibia perform in their previous warm-up?
Namibia defeated Scotland by 6 runs on 04 February 2026, defending a total of 226/4.