Quick Results: India (256/4 in 20 overs) beat Zimbabwe (184/6 in 20 overs) by 72 runs in Chennai in a Super 8 match.
IND vs ZIM T20 WORLD CUP 2026: MAIN | SCORECARD
India staged a brilliant recovery on Thursday to keep their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup alive. Suryakumar Yadav’s men beat Zimbabwe by 72 runs in a Super 8 match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. With India’s win, South Africa advanced to the semi-finals, while Zimbabwe crashed out of the tournament.
This means India and West Indies are the only two teams left in Group 1 fighting for the remaining semi-final spot. Group 1 has two more matches scheduled for Sunday, March 1. The clash between Zimbabwe and South Africa at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi is a no-brainer with the fate of both teams already sealed.
However, Sunday’s second match between India and West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata is of immense importance. It is this contest that will decide the other semi-finalist from Group 1. India’s run net fell to -3.800 after losing to South Africa by 76 runs, but improved sharply to -0.100 after their emphatic win over Zimbabwe.
The question now is: what must India do against the West Indies to qualify for the semi-finals?
Scenario 1: India wins
If India beat West Indies, they will qualify for the semi-finals with four points from three matches in the Super 8 stage.
Scenario 2: India loses
If India lose to West Indies, they will be out of the competition and West Indies will qualify for the semi-finals.
Scenario 3: No result
If rain washes out Sunday’s clash, the West Indies will qualify for the semi-finals. Both teams would have finished on three points had the match ended, but the West Indies would have progressed thanks to their superior net rate of +1.791.
HOW INDIA HURTS ZIMBABWE
After being put in to bat, India piled up a daunting score of 256 for four, their highest score in T20 World Cups and the second highest in the history of the tournament.
Abhishek Sharma returned to form with a smooth 55 off 30 ballsby hitting four fours and four sixes lay a solid foundation. Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan chipped in with useful contributions while skipper Suryakumar Yadav added a quickfire 33.
Hardik Pandya then provided the late fireworks, smashing an unbeaten 50 off 23 balls to win the Man of the Match award. Tilak Varma played a rousing cameo of 44 not out from just 16 deliveries which ensured that India finished with a massive total.
In response, Brian Bennett waged a lone battle for Zimbabwe with a superb unbeaten 97 off 59 balls, but lacked adequate support from the other end.
Arshdeep Singh played with the ball, claiming three wickets in 24 runs to become the all-time leading wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history as Zimbabwe were restricted to 184 for six.
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Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
26 Feb 2026 22:55 IST
