Ind Vs Zim: Kumble’s warning answered as India post 256/4 and win by 72 runs
In ind vs zim at Chepauk on Thursday, India posted 256/4 and then held Zimbabwe to 184/6 to secure a 72-run victory, answering Anil Kumble’s warning that the team must not be complacent.
Ind Vs Zim at Chepauk
India, the tournament co-hosts and defending champions, batted first after Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and put them into bat at Chepauk on Thursday. India finished 256/4, then restricted Zimbabwe to 184/6, completing a 72-run win that ended Zimbabwe’s run in the Super Eights despite Brian Bennett’s valiant 97 not out.
Kumble urged caution before the Super 8 clash
Former India skipper Anil Kumble warned the squad not to take Zimbabwe lightly ahead of the Super 8 clash in Chennai, speaking on JioHotstar. He urged the Men in Blue to stick to their natural aggressive approach but to remain wary of Zimbabwe’s form: their group-stage win over Australia and a successful chase of 179 against co-hosts Sri Lanka. Kumble singled out tall fast bowlers Blessing Muzarabani and Brad Evans for their bounce and movement in the Powerplay, and said India could not lower their guard after a 76-run defeat to Aiden Markram’s South Africa left them in a must-win situation and needing victories over Zimbabwe and West Indies while significantly improving a Net Run Rate of -3. 800.
Blistering Indian batting powered the total
Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya hit half-centuries as India posted the highest total of the edition and the second-highest in T20 World Cup history. Sharma’s maiden T20I fifty came in 26 balls and he finished 55 off 30 with four fours and four sixes. Hardik Pandya’s 50 came in 23 balls; Pandya struck two sixes off the last two balls to bring up his fifty and take India to the record number. Sanju Samson had 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. India struck 17 sixes and 17 fours, totalling 170 runs in boundaries, reached 150 in the 13th over, 200 in the 17th over and 250 in the final over. Tilak Varma finished 44 not out and he and Pandya added an unbeaten 84 in 31 balls for the fifth wicket.
Zimbabwe’s chase and fielding lapses
Zimbabwe made a steady start, reaching 44/0 in the powerplay, but Axar Patel, marking his return to the playing XI, dismissed opener Tadiwanashe Marumani off his second ball to give India the breakthrough. Brian Bennett fought hard with a 97 not out and brought up a fifty in 36 balls with a six off Jasprit Bumrah, while Sikandar Raza made 31, but there was little other support. Zimbabwe’s sloppy fielding — they dropped at least two regulation catches — and the pressure of the target left them at 184/6 when the innings ended, spelling the end of the road for a side that had reached the Super Eights for the first time after beating Australia and Sri Lanka in the group stage.
What it leaves for India and reactions
The win keeps India in the hunt for a semi-final spot, but South Africa have already booked their final four place and India’s clash with West Indies on Sunday is now essentially a knockout, with the winner progressing in the tournament. The India captain said the side had tried to leave their previous game behind, had worked with analysts and would tighten the screws on their bowling ahead of the West Indies match, adding they would take a day off to relax. The Zimbabwe captain said he saw “a lot of positives, ” that his team were more composed compared with their last game and that they could take heart from the performance. Also see IND vs ZIM Live Score.
India face West Indies on Sunday in a winner-takes-all Super Eights match; South Africa have already secured a semi-final berth.
