India Vs Zimbabwe: India beat Zimbabwe by 72 runs in Chennai to keep T20 World Cup title defence alive
Defending champions kept their T20 World Cup semi-final hopes alive in a commanding win in the india vs zimbabwe Super 8 clash in Chennai, eliminating Zimbabwe by 72 runs after posting 256-4 in 20 overs.
India Vs Zimbabwe: scoreline and match result
India 256-4 (20 overs): Sharma 55; Hardik 50*. Zimbabwe 184-6 (20 overs): Bennett 97*; Singh 3-24. The match finished with India victorious by 72 runs, sealing Zimbabwe’s exit and keeping India in contention for a semi-final place.
Batting blitz: India pile on 256-4
India produced their highest T20 World Cup total and the second-highest total in T20 World Cup history, amassing 256-4. Abhishek Sharma top-scored with 55 off 30 balls, reaching his half-century in 26 balls despite entering the match under pressure after three ducks in his previous four innings. Sharma struck four fours and four sixes in his innings.
Hardik Pandya completed an explosive, unbeaten 50 from 23 balls, sealing his half-century with a six off the final delivery of the innings. Tilak Varma also made a rapid contribution, remaining unbeaten on 44 from 16 balls. Early in the innings Sanju Samson struck the second ball of the match for six and made a quickfire 24 from 15 deliveries as India reached 80-1 at the end of the powerplay, with Sharma contributing three fours and three sixes in that phase.
Zimbabwe response and Bennett’s valiant effort
Chasing 257, Zimbabwe’s young opener Brian Bennett showcased his form with 97 not out from 59 balls, recording his third unbeaten half-century of the tournament. The 22-year-old reached his fifty in 34 balls and struck eight fours and six sixes, but lacked substantial support; Sikandar Raza’s 31 from 21 balls was the next highest score. Zimbabwe finished on 184-6, well short of the target.
Bowling impact and pivotal moments
India’s bowling attack delivered when it mattered, with Singh taking 3-24 to help restrict the chase. The innings also featured a notable phase described as an 'awkward' over in which India punished Maposa, a passage that contributed to Zimbabwe’s inability to mount a sustained reply.
Tournament implications and what's next
India are now level on two points with West Indies and know that victory over the two-time champions in Kolkata on Sunday will secure a place in the last four. Zimbabwe, who had gone unbeaten in the initial group stage, conceded more than 250 runs for the second successive Super 8 match and were eliminated by this defeat.
Elsewhere in the Super 8s, South Africa beaten West Indies by nine wickets to maintain a 100% record at the tournament; South Africa join England in qualifying for the semi-finals with a game to spare.
Context: India’s tournament form and recovery
India had swept the initial group stage with four wins, twice passing 190, but were bowled out for 111 while chasing 187 in their Super 8 opener against South Africa, a setback that left them in near must-win territory heading into Chennai. The victory over Zimbabwe represents a decisive response, as India passed 250 in a men's T20 international for the fifth time and posted their highest T20 World Cup total.
Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza had said at the toss it would "come down to a battle of nerves"; in Chennai, India showed the stronger nerve as they advanced their title defence hopes.
