CHENNAI, India: In a high-octane Super Eights encounter at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, India produced a commanding all-round performance to defeat Zimbabwe by 72 runs, significantly boosting their chances of securing a semi-final berth in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Asked to bat first by Zimbabwean skipper Sikandar Raza, the Indian batting lineup unleashed a record-breaking onslaught, posting a mammoth total of 256/4.
In response, a valiant unbeaten 97 from Brian Bennett was not enough to prevent the Chevrons from being restricted to 184/6, as the Indian bowling attack, led by the fiery Arshdeep Singh, held their nerve to seal a comprehensive victory.
India stay in the hunt for a #T20WorldCup semis spot with a splendid win over Zimbabwe ✨
📝: https://t.co/XB78VZ8s3p pic.twitter.com/hGL1LzLvmz
— ICC (@ICC) February 26, 2026
Batting fireworks propel India to 256
The Indian innings was a spectacle of modern T20 batting, with every batter in the top six making significant contributions. The final five overs yielded a staggering 80 runs, propelling the Men in Blue past the 250-run mark for the first time in the tournament.
Openers Sanju Samson (24 off 15) and Abhishek Sharma provided a brisk start, racing to 48 in just 3.4 overs. After Samson’s dismissal, Ishan Kishan (38 off 24) continued the assault in a dominant 72-run partnership with Abhishek. The latter anchored the innings superbly, bringing up a magnificent 55 off just 30 balls before his departure.
Defending champions India finish with a total for the #T20WorldCup record books in Chennai 📘
Watch the highlights of their innings against Zimbabwe ➡️ https://t.co/tcxZUjpC1X pic.twitter.com/spzNNo227Y
— ICC (@ICC) February 26, 2026
Captain Suryakumar Yadav chipped in with a blistering 33 off 13 balls, but it was the unbroken fifth-wicket partnership between Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma that truly demoralized the Zimbabwean attack.
The duo plundered 84 runs off just 31 balls. Pandya remained unbeaten on a 23-ball 50, while the young Varma provided the final flourish with a breathtaking 44 off a mere 16 deliveries, smashing four sixes.
Arshdeep and bowlers defend the total
Chasing a daunting target of 257, Zimbabwe lost an early wicket, but Brian Bennett stood tall amidst the ruins. The opener played a sensational lone hand, remaining unbeaten on 97 off just 59 balls, an innings studded with eight fours and six sixes. He found some support from captain Sikandar Raza, who scored a brisk 31, but wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals at the other end.
Arshdeep Singh was the pick of the Indian bowlers, returning impressive figures of 3/24 in his four overs. His double strike in the 16th over, removing the dangerous Raza and Ryan Burl in quick succession, effectively ended any faint hopes of a Zimbabwean miracle.
The spin duo of Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy kept things tight in the middle overs, each claiming a wicket, while Shivam Dube chipped in with one late in the innings.
Semi-final hopes brighten
The emphatic 72-run victory has not only given India a massive boost in net run rate but has also placed them in a strong position to advance from Group 1. With one foot firmly in the semi-finals, the Suryakumar Yadav-led side will now await the outcomes of the remaining group matches, knowing that their fate is very much in their own hands.
