India Vs Zimbabwe: India thump Zimbabwe by 72 runs in Chennai to keep semi hopes alive
In a high-scoring Super 8s encounter, india vs zimbabwe ended in a comprehensive 72-run victory for defending champions India in Chennai, a result that keeps their T20 World Cup semi-final hopes alive. The scale of the win matters because it restores India’s position in a tight group and sets up a decisive meeting with West Indies in Kolkata that will determine their path to the last four.
India Vs Zimbabwe: Super 8s clash in Chennai
India piled up 256-4 in their 20 overs, then restricted Zimbabwe to 184-6, sealing a 72-run margin. The match eliminated Zimbabwe from contention and left India level on two points with West Indies in the Super 8s. A victory over West Indies in Kolkata on Sunday will secure India a semi-final spot.
India innings: Sharma, Pandya and Varma pile up 256-4
Abhishek Sharma top-scored with 55 off 30 balls, striking four fours and four sixes and overcoming a difficult run that had included three ducks in his previous four innings. Hardik Pandya finished an unbeaten 50 from 23 balls, reaching his half-century with a six off the final delivery of the innings, while Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 44 from 16. Sanju Samson provided an early flourish, hitting the second ball of the match for six and finishing 24 from 15 as India reached 80-1 at the end of the powerplay.
The 256-4 total is historic: it is the second-highest score in T20 World Cup history, behind Sri Lanka’s 260-6 against Kenya in the inaugural tournament in 2007, and it marked India’s fifth occasion of passing 250 in a men’s T20 international. India had previously come under pressure during the Super 8s after being bowled out for 111 while chasing 187 in their opener against South Africa, a defeat that left them in near must-win territory heading into Chennai.
Brian Bennett’s 97 and Zimbabwe chase
Zimbabwe opener Brian Bennett produced a standout innings, remaining unbeaten on 97 from 59 balls. The 22-year-old registered his third unbeaten half-century of the tournament; his fifty arrived from 34 deliveries and included eight fours and six sixes. Despite Bennett’s display, support was scarce—Sikandar Raza was the next-best scorer with 31 off 21—and Zimbabwe fell well short of the target.
Bowling figures for India included a notable 3-24 from Singh, which helped to stifle the chase during crucial phases. Bennett’s effort could not prevent elimination; Zimbabwe had entered the Super 8s having gone unbeaten in the initial group stage but conceded more than 250 runs for the second straight Super 8s match.
Tournament context: South Africa, England and the West Indies equation
The result has immediate ramifications for the group table. South Africa maintained a perfect record after beating West Indies by nine wickets, preserving a 100% tournament run and joining England in qualifying for the semi-finals with a game to spare. India sit level on two points with West Indies and face the two-time champions in a win-or-out type fixture in Kolkata; a win there would clinch India’s place in the last four.
Earlier form and the toss: Raza’s nerves comment and India’s recent trajectory
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza warned at the toss that the contest would "come down to a battle of nerves, " a framing that was borne out as India raced to a mammoth total and Zimbabwe failed to find consistent partnerships while chasing. India’s route to Chennai had been mixed: they won all four matches in the initial group stage and twice scored above 190, yet their Super 8s campaign began with that collapse to 111 against South Africa, which placed extra emphasis on the need for a big response.
What makes this notable is the contrast between individual fireworks and collective support: India’s top three hitters combined to deliver the platform for 256, while Zimbabwe relied heavily on Brian Bennett’s 97* with little backing down the order. The Chennai result compresses the group picture and turns the upcoming Kolkata meeting into a decisive fixture for India’s title defence hopes.
