Ind Vs Zim: India pile up 256/4 at Chepauk and win by 72, but Kumble warns against complacency
The ind vs zim clash in Chennai ended with India posting 256/4 and beating Zimbabwe by 72 runs, but the result leaves the defending champions still needing a win over West Indies and a sizable Net Run Rate recovery to stay in contention.
Ind Vs Zim: India post 256/4 at Chepauk
It was carnage at Chepauk as India racked up 256/4 after Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza put India into bat. Abhishek Sharma hit his maiden T20I half-century — 55 off 30 with four fours and four sixes after reaching fifty in 26 balls — and Hardik Pandya finished with 50 off 23 to push India to the highest total of this edition and the second-highest in T20 World Cup history. India struck 17 sixes and 17 fours, totalling 170 runs in boundaries, passed 150 in the 13th over, 200 in the 17th, and reached 250 in the final over.
Sanju Samson back at the top as Pandya and Varma close in style
Sanju Samson returned to the playing XI and opened with Sharma, belting the second ball of the innings for six before falling in the fourth over as India motored to 80/1 in the powerplay. Tilak Varma remained 44 not out and shared an unbeaten fifth-wicket stand of 84 in 31 balls with Hardik Pandya; Pandya struck two sixes off the last two balls to bring up his fifty and push India to 256/4. The total leapfrogged the West Indies' 254/6 posted three nights earlier against Zimbabwe and fell just four short of Sri Lanka's 260 in 2007.
Zimbabwe fought but Bennett’s 97 not out wasn’t enough
Zimbabwe made 184/6 in reply. Brian Bennett produced a valiant 97 not out and had earlier reached 50 in 36 balls, including a six off Jasprit Bumrah, but apart from Sikandar Raza’s 31 there was little support. Zimbabwe began with 44/0 in the powerplay before Axar Patel, returned to India’s XI, dismissed opener Tadiwanashe Marumani with his second ball. Fielding lapses cost Zimbabwe too; they dropped at least two regulation catches.
Kumble’s warning: don’t take Zimbabwe lightly
Former India skipper Anil Kumble warned the Men in Blue against complacency on JioHotstar, saying India must stick to their natural aggressive approach but respect Zimbabwe’s recent form. Kumble pointed to Zimbabwe’s group-stage breakthroughs — they beat Australia and successfully chased 179 against Sri Lanka on Sri Lankan soil to reach the Super Eights for the first time — and highlighted tall pacemen Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans for the bounce and movement they produced in the Powerplay. Kumble stressed India cannot lower their guard after a 76-run defeat to Aiden Markram’s South Africa in their opening Super 8 fixture, a loss that left India in a must-win situation and with a poor Net Run Rate of -3. 800.
What captains and schedules said after the game
India’s captain said the team wanted to leave the earlier group-stage results behind, that they had worked with analysts and would tighten their bowling ahead of the decisive India vs West Indies tie. He added that a day off tomorrow would help the players relax. The Zimbabwe captain said, "I look at a lot of positives, " and that his side had been more composed than in their previous game and could take heart from the performance. Also See: IND vs ZIM Live Score.
Where this leaves the Super Eights
South Africa have already booked a spot in the final four, and the India vs West Indies match on Sunday is now essentially a knockout: the winner will progress in the tournament. Media coverage following the game said attention next turns to Pakistan fixtures, with Pakistan versus Sri Lanka scheduled on Saturday and Pakistan against India noted as an upcoming focus.
The next confirmed on-field milestone for India is the Super Eights decider against West Indies on Sunday; India must win that match and improve their NRR from -3. 800 to remain in contention.
