T20 World Cup 2026, IND vs ZIM: India beat Zimbabwe; will face WI now in virtual QF on March 1

T20 World Cup 2026, IND vs ZIM: India overcome Zimbabwe to set up a virtual quarterfinal clash against West Indies on March 1.

Brief Scores: India 256/4 (Abhishek Sharma 55, Sikandar Raza 1/29) beat Zimbabwe 184/6 (Brian Bennett 97*, Arshdeep Singh 3/24) by 72 runs.

Player of the Match: Hardik Pandya (50 off 23)

Defending champions India produced a commanding all-round performance to thrash Zimbabwe in Chennai, keeping their semifinal hopes alive and setting up a virtual quarterfinal clash with the West Indies in their final Super Eight fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Powered by explosive knocks from Hardik Pandya and Abhishek Sharma, India piled up a massive total before their bowlers ensured Zimbabwe fell well short in the chase. It was a complete display with both bat and ball, underlining India’s strong push in the title race.

Talking Point: Hardik Pandya at No. 5 is the right move for India
Hardik Pandya batting at number five looked like a perfectly planned move from India in today’s match. He appeared confident and clear about his role from the moment he walked in. In earlier games, especially against South Africa, India experimented by sending Washington Sundar at No. 5, which didn’t work. There were multiple changes in the batting order, left-right combinations were not maintained properly, and even Suryakumar Yadav had to adjust the batting order at times.

However, today, Hardik at No. 5 looked completely settled. Coming in around the 11th to 13th over gave him enough time to assess the situation before finishing the innings brilliantly. His unbeaten knock came at an outstanding strike rate of 217.39, showing how dangerous he can be in that role. This position allows him to control the middle overs and explode at the death, something India should continue with going forward.

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Abhishek, Hardik and Tilak power India to record 256-4
India piled up a massive 256-4 in 20 overs against Zimbabwe in their must-win Super Eight clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. After Sikandar Raza opted to bowl, the new opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson added 48 off 22 balls. Samson made 24 off 15, while Abhishek smashed 55 off 30, bringing up his maiden World Cup fifty off just 26 balls with four sixes. Ishan Kishan chipped in with 38 as India raced to 80-1 in the powerplay and crossed 100 by the 10th over.

In the second half, Suryakumar Yadav struck 33 off 13 to maintain the tempo before Tilak Varma (44*) and Hardik Pandya (50*) provided explosive late fireworks. It was India’s highest total of the tournament and left Zimbabwe with a daunting chase.

Arshdeep Singh strikes thrice as India beat Zimbabwe by 72 runs
Zimbabwe, chasing a massive target of 257, battled hard but could only manage 184-6 in 20 overs as India’s bowlers stuck to their plans under pressure. Opener Brian Bennett played brilliantly throughout the innings, remaining unbeaten and scoring a big 97 to keep Zimbabwe in the hunt for a large portion of the chase. He was supported by captain Sikandar Raza, who scored 31, but Zimbabwe couldn’t build the big partnerships needed to overhaul India’s total.

India’s bowling attack applied pressure at key moments, with Arshdeep Singh the standout, finishing with three crucial wickets to disrupt Zimbabwe’s momentum and restrict them well below the target. The disciplined bowling effort ensured India sealed a convincing 72-run win to keep their semifinal hopes alive.

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Statistical highlights from IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 fixture

• Sanju Samson is the seventh India batter to cross the 100-run mark against Zimbabwe in T20Is.
• Sanju Samson & Abhishek Sharma registered the highest opening stand (48) for India in T20 World Cup 2026.
• India registered the third-highest powerplay score (80-1) in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. The highest in this phase in the ongoing tournament remains India’s 86-1 against Namibia in the group stage.
• Abhishek Sharma registered his first fifty-plus score in T20 World Cup.
• Ishan Kishan became the first India batter to cross the 200-run mark in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026.
• Suryakumar Yadav became the 34th entrant in the 4,000 international runs club for India across formats.
• Suryakumar Yadav became the second India batter to cross the 200-run mark in T20 World Cup 2026.
• India registered their fifth 200+ total in T20 World Cup history.
• India registered their highest T20 World Cup total, and the second-highest overall in the tournament history.

Points table scenario and what’s nextWith this emphatic result, South Africa remain at the top of the Super Eight group and have officially sealed their place in the semifinals, while Zimbabwe bow out of the race for the last four. In the latest standings of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, West Indies are placed second, with India currently at third, setting up a decisive final clash between the two sides.

India’s next match is against the West Indies on 1 March 2026 at Eden Gardens. This game is virtually a must-win for India, as they now have one win and one loss in the Super Eight stage. Another victory will be crucial to strengthen their chances of qualifying for the semifinals.

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