India considered it necessary to win the match against Zimbabwe in the Super 8 match of the 2026 T20 World Cup at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The Men in Blue were invited to bat first after Sikandar Raza won the toss. There were two changes to the co-hosts, with Rinku Singh and Washington Sundar replacing Sanju Samson and vice-captain Axar Patel.
The Men in Blue batsmen smashed the Chevron bowlers all over the park and scored 256/4 in 20 overs. It started with Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma giving India a flying start, and then there were short, impressive but explosive innings from Ishan Kishan and captain Suryakumar Yadav. Hardik Pandya and Tilak Verma provided the finish that India needed.
India made the highest score
This helped the Men in Blue post the second-highest score in T20 World Cup history as they surpassed West Indies’ record as they scored 254/6 against Zimbabwe in their last match. This is also India’s highest score in the T20 World Cup.
The highest score was 260/6 which Sri Lanka made against Kenya in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in Johannesburg in 2007. Third is West Indies vs Zimbabwe’s 254/6 at Wankhede in this edition of the World Cup.
Abhishek Sharma performed brilliantly for India
Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma scored 48 runs in the first four overs of the game. The former player scored 24 runs in 15 balls and looked in good form. Abhishek Sharma finally got back to his form as the southpaw scored his first half-century of the tournament, scoring 55 runs in 30 balls at an average of 183.33 with four sixes and as many fours.
Ishan Kishan also played an impressive inning of 38 runs in 24 balls, hitting four fours and a six. India scored 120/2 during the half stage of the first innings. After this, Suryakumar Yadav, playing at a strike rate of 253.84, scored 33 runs in 14 balls with the help of three fours and two sixes.
Hardik Pandya and Tilak Verma provided the finishing touches for the Men in Blue as they both headed towards the end of the innings. The former player scored 50 runs in 23 balls and hit four sixes and two fours at a pace of 217.39. Tilak scored 44 runs in 16 balls at a strike rate of 275, hitting three fours and four sixes.
Zimbabwe had a good start while chasing the target, they scored 44 runs for the first wicket, Axar Patel took the first wicket for the co-host team. Just a few minutes ago they lost their second wicket, the score is now 73/2. Team captain Sikandar Raza has come to bat with Brian Bennett, who looked in good touch after scoring 43 runs off 29 balls.
After losing their first Super 8 games against South Africa and West Indies respectively, this is a must-win game for both the sides. However, after the huge score made by India, Chevron needs a miracle to win this game.
Also read: India’s first wicket average was around 7: Irfan Pathan reacts to Sanju Samson’s innings against Zimbabwe