Sikander Raza outlined a clear blueprint for victory at the R. Premadasa Stadium after leading Zimbabwe to a stunning victory over the Australian national cricket team in the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on February 13.
In the day’s match in Colombo, Zimbabwe posted 169 for 2 before bowling out Australia for 146 in 19.3 overs. The result marked one of the biggest surprises of the tournament, with Raz’s tactical awareness proving decisive against a side led by Travis Head.
After the match, Raza explained that the key to success on the ground was restraint. With Zimbabwe placed around 70 for 1 after 10 overs, there was talk in the dressing room of pushing for a total close to 190. However, Raza quashed the idea.
“70 in 10 and we said we’re happy. Someone in the dressing room said 190 is on and I said no. Now when you’re looking for 190, it’s 140 full. Just keep going at eights and nines and see what happens,” Raza said.
AUS vs ZIM, ICC T20 World Cup: Scorecard | Highlighting
Raza, drawing on previous tours of Sri Lanka, pointed out that the surface tends to slow down and diminish as the game progresses, making it increasingly difficult to shoot.
“We understand that the wicket is getting slower and lower and the moment you try to go too hard too soon, a bunch of wickets can fall,” he explained.
A TOTAL OF 175 COULD WIN IN COLOMBO
Zimbabwe were instead aiming for a total in the range of 170–175. Raza revealed that he sent a message to his set batter urging him not to panic even if the boundaries are not flowing.
“We told him he’s doing a great job. It doesn’t matter if he tries and doesn’t bat – don’t panic. As long as he’s there we’ll get to a good total. I thought 175 was what we were looking for,” he added.
Raza later admitted that his gut told him 170 would do on this surface – a call that proved to be spot on.
Zimbabwe then backed up their batting efforts with excellent bowling and fielding, claiming four wickets in the power play and sparing key runs in the field.
“With the ball and in the field, some of the boundary stops were unbelievable. It looked like the lads really wanted it. We’re happy to get the win,” concluded Raza.
His insights could be particularly relevant for India ahead of their group stage clash against Pakistan at the same venue. Instead of chasing a formidable total, teams may have to trust their batsman and judge the conditions carefully.
India faced some trouble against spin in their previous match against the national cricket team of Namibia, with Hardik Pandya expressing concern over the surface. However, the conditions in Sri Lanka are expected to offer more grip and spin, further underscoring the importance of measured batting in what could again be a tricky one.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
February 13, 2026