India Vs Zimbabwe — india vs zimbabwe: Super 8s, Chennai report
Defending champions India produced a huge batting display to post 256-4 and beat Zimbabwe by 72 runs in the Super 8s, leaving the co-hosts in a semi-final hunt. The india vs zimbabwe match in Chennai sets up a winner-takes-all clash with West Indies in Kolkata on Sunday for the second qualification spot from Group 1.
Match details and context
The contest was the 48th Match, Super Eights, Group 1 at Chennai on February 26, 2026. India were put in to bat by Zimbabwe and recovered from a heavy loss to South Africa earlier in the Super 8s campaign to register a 72-run victory and remain in contention for the last semi-final berth from the group.
India Vs Zimbabwe: Match Summary
India finished on 256-4 from 20 overs. The batting card read: Abhishek Sharma 55 off 30, Hardik Pandya 50 not out off 23, Tilak Varma 44 not out off 16, Ishan Kishan 38 off 24, Suryakumar Yadav 33 off 13 and Sanju Samson 24 off 15. Sikandar Raza returned bowling figures of 1-29 for Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe replied 184-6 from 20 overs, falling short of the 257 target.
Big batting display in Chennai
India cracked 17 sixes and 17 fours after being inserted. Abhishek Sharma top-scored with 55 off 30 balls, a first significant knock after three ducks to start the tournament and an innings of 15 against South Africa. The top six all contributed, with Hardik Pandya unbeaten on 50 off 23, Tilak Varma unbeaten on 44 off 16, Ishan Kishan 38 off 24, Suryakumar Yadav 33 off 13 and Sanju Samson 24 off 15.
Key partnerships and missed chances
Abhishek and Sanju Samson put on 48 off 23 for the first wicket. Abhishek and Ishan Kishan added 72 off 42 for the second wicket. The innings closed with an unbroken 84 from 31 between Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma. Suryakumar Yadav had been dropped on eight by Blessing Muzarabani at deep backward square early in his innings.
Zimbabwe reply and Bennett heroics
Brian Bennett produced a notable response, striking 97 not out off 59 balls with six sixes and eight fours as Zimbabwe reached 184-6. Bennett put on 72 off 42 deliveries with captain Sikandar Raza, who made 31 off 21 for the third wicket. Tadiwanashe Marumani scored 20 off 20. Raza was eventually holed out off Arshdeep Singh at long-on.
Bowling figures and turning points
India’s left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh finished with 3-24. Varun Chakravarthy returned 1-35 and Axar Patel also took 1-35. Zimbabwe’s replies were not enough and the side are now out of semi-final contention after two defeats from two in the Super 8s.
Knockout picture and schedule
India’s win, together with South Africa’s nine-wicket drubbing of West Indies earlier in the day, confirmed South Africa’s place in the knockouts. India will qualify for the T20 World Cup semi-finals if they beat West Indies on Sunday but will be eliminated if they lose. The decisive winner-takes-all showdown for the second qualification spot from Group 1 is scheduled in Kolkata on Sunday at 1. 30pm UK time.
The India total of 256-4 is the second-highest score in the tournament’s history, behind only Sri Lanka’s 260-6 against Kenya in 2007.
