India defeated Zimbabwe by a huge margin to keep their hopes of the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals alive. The two teams had faced off in a Group 1 Super 8s game at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on February 26, 2026.
Sikandar Raza won the toss and chose to field first. India brought in Sanju Samson for Rinku Singh and Axar Patel for Washington Sundar. Samson gave an electrifying start to India with 24 in 15 balls with one four and 2 sixes, adding 48 runs in 3.2 overs with Abhishek Sharma.
Sharma looked confident and calm in his knock, preferring singles and doubles when his big shots were working. Abhishek held one end as he added 72 runs with Ishan Kishan (38) for the second wicket.
Abhishek opened up well, hitting 4 fours and 4 sixes in his 30-ball 55, hitting his maiden T20 World Cup fifty, before being dismissed by Tinotenda Maposa.
India went on to hit 256/4, with Suryakumar Yadav hitting 33 in 13 balls, Tilak Varma smashing 44* in 16 balls with 3 sixes and 4 fours, and Hardik Pandya recording a 50* in 23 balls with 2 fours and 4 sixes. This is the second-highest team total in T20 World Cup history, behind Sri Lanka’s 260/6 against Kenya in the 2007 edition.
In response, Brian Bennett played an amazing knock of 97* with 8 fours and 6 sixes, while captain Sikandar Raza made 31 in 21 balls and Tadiwanashe Marumani made 20 runs as Zimbabwe made 184/6 in 20 overs. Arshdeep Singh with 3/24 was the pick of the Indian bowlers, and Hardik Pandya got the Player of the Match award for his fifty.
India will next face the West Indies in Kolkata on March 1 in their final Super 8s game.
The cricket fraternity was all praises on social media for the Indian team as they kept their hopes of semis alive with this huge win.
Here are the posts:
India got the job done ????????
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) February 26, 2026
A record batting display led by a great start from @IamSanjuSamson and fifties from @OfficialAbhi04 and @hardikpandya7, backed by @arshdeepsinghh’s impressive spell and a clinical bowling effort from the boys. Strong response ????
“Hathi chale beech Bazaar”, Awazen aayen Ek hazaar “ - 80 runs in the power play laid the foundation-sledgehammer @hardikpandya7 & Vijay “Tilak” pummel Zimbabwe … March on @surya_14kumar @abhisheksharm06 pic.twitter.com/yc6ryZkiMz
— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) February 26, 2026
Great win by Team India, but Zimbabwe will take plenty of positives back home. Brian Bennett being the 2nd highest scorer in the World Cup is the biggest one.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 26, 2026
Normal service, restored. That’s more like it. Good to see all the batters showing form. Set up nicely for the virtual QF vs WI! #INDvZIM #T20WC2026 pic.twitter.com/fP3k0ziQle
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) February 26, 2026
Yeh Hamara Hardik Hai. Aur Yeh Hard Hitting Hai ????#Aakashvani #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Kjql7DYGcK
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 26, 2026
A powerful performance by India 's batters. Of all the innings, India will derive most comfort from the return to runs for Abhishek and Tilak who showed his versatility in the middle order.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 26, 2026
Terrific batting display by team India.
— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) February 26, 2026
All the batters looked in supreme touch ????
Abhishek, Hardik and Tilak were superb ????#INDvZIM#T20WorldCup2026
Can’t believe Ind sent Washy at 5 & Hardik at 7 last game. Tonight was a gentle reminder what a phenomenal striker of the ball Hardik is. Along with Bumrah, going forward, these are your 2 big match winners come the crunch games.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 26, 2026
Sabash #TeamIndia you nailed it guys as expected, all box ticked almost.
— Munaf Patel (@munafpa99881129) February 26, 2026
Bowling can be more work on.#INDvsZIM #T20WorldCup26 pic.twitter.com/7q3nezY4O0
