Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza has brushed aside concerns over his team’s lack of recent T20I experience in India, insisting his team has the belief and ability to deliver a “top-notch performance” in the Super Eights of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Zimbabwe have not played a T20I in India for over a decade, but Raza made it clear that ignorance of local conditions will not be an excuse. African side who stunned Sri Lanka and Australia in the group stagethey now find themselves in a daunting Super Eights group alongside India, South Africa and the West Indies.
“Regardless of the outcome, I don’t think it will be because we can’t adapt to the conditions. That’s not the way Zimbabweans think or that’s not the way we think,” Raza said.
Zimbabwe started their Super Eights campaign at the iconic Wankhede Stadium and Raza stressed that preparation and mindset mattered more than history.
“Now we have a warm-up, we’ll have a session at the nets. We’re absorbing, watching a lot of cricket. Some of us have also played here and most haven’t,” he said.
Raza, who previously featured in the Indian Premier League, acknowledged that playing in India helps, but says adaptability is key.
“Instead of worrying about a smaller pitch or anything else, it will remain the same for both teams. What we are looking for is a top, top performance from Zimbabwe to help us win the match.”
The captain was frank but defiant about Zimbabwe’s ambitions.
“How many of you picked Zimbabwe as a semi-finalist? Definitely,” he said with a smile.
“Maybe we haven’t done enough and these are the things that motivate us. I don’t know if we can do it or not. But one thing I can assure you from the Zimbabwe captain and the team’s point of view is that we will give it our all.”
Raza admitted that faith in the camp grew with each victory.
“With every win it changed. After the first game I could see the confidence and the belief, but with every next game it got better and better.”
“That’s what winning does. It lifts you, the confidence comes back and you start to believe in yourself a lot more,” he added, sending a clear message that Zimbabwe intends to compete, not just participate, in the Super Eights.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
February 23, 2026
