Zimbabwe’s ‘Castle Corner’ created magic during their final Super Eight match against South Africa on Sunday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi (Photo Credit: Tanuj Lakhina | TimesofIndia.com) NEW DELHI: The first level of Gate 15 of the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi had a different atmosphere on Sunday. Zimbabwe were on the field bidding to save their pride against semi-finalists South Africa in their final T20 World Cup match in 2026. Zimbabwe had every reason to be proud of their tournament despite conceding 510 runs in the two Super Eight matches against West Indies and India.After these brutal attacks, stunning wins against Australia and Sri Lanka in the group stage seemed like a distant memory. But it didn’t matter to the fans in red who occupied the corner of the first row. The famous ‘Castle Corner’ cheered Sikandar Raza’s every boundary, every stray run in between and rose in unison with every appeal and every wicket. Even though it was light and warm, this pack of six and the college students from the capital who joined them kept on singing and dancing.
T20 World Cup: Sikandar Raza press conference after SA vs ZIM
The ‘Castle Corner’ comes from their venue at the iconic Harare Sports Club, where they have historically hosted many raucous days – exactly what Sri Lanka and later India have witnessed in the past few weeks.Six fans – Malvin Kwaramba, Brian Hwenjer, Godwin Mamhiyo, Leonah Tanikwa, Abel Mataranyika and Ben Gotora – began planning a year in advance and pooled their savings for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Social media and local embassies helped get the word out and more fans started arriving, such as from Uganda and Kenya in Delhi.
Zimbabwe fans react during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 match between Australia and Zimbabwe at the R. Premadasa Stadium on February 13, 2026 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
“Last year, a group of us got together and decided, ‘Look, it’s not every time you get to the World Cup in Asia.’ Asia is the home of cricket. You talk about Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India… they love cricket. So we wanted to experience it, we wanted to be here,” explained Godwin, who is an accountant at home.“So we got together as a group and put money together and managed to go to Colombo. Our Colombo money was enough for the group stages,” he continued.As they were preparing to fly back home from Colombo, they were contacted by a private entity to extend their stay in the subcontinent. They took care of their flights from Sri Lanka to India and hotels in Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi.
Zimbabwean fans cheer on their team against South Africa at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. (Photo Credit: Tanuj Lakhina | TimesofIndia.com)
With that, foot stomping songs reached India and the capital on Sunday. Although the songs are in Shona and Ndebele, the two main dialects, references to current team members make them easy to follow.“Most of the songs are derived from things we sing at home. Africans in general like to sing. That’s who we are. So most of them are derived from what we do at home,” Godwin said.“And then we include the names of the players. You have Vanojitne Mweya Mutsvene (‘We move with the Holy Spirit’) which is then linked to the player’s name. We have songs for almost every player. But it all comes from our culture and what we do at home,” he continued.Godwin is no stranger to the World Cup spectacle. As a youngster, his first exposure to the elite tournament was in 2003 when Zimbabwe co-hosted the ODI World Cup with South Africa and Kenya. The 2027 ODI World Cup will return to the region with Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia as co-hosts. What should traveling Indian fans expect?
Zimbabwe’s famous ‘Castle Corner’ group of supporters made their presence felt at the Arun Jaitely Stadium in New Delhi (Photo Courtesy: Tanuj Lakhina | TimesofIndia.com)
“You’ve only seen seven of us. There’s 250 people doing what we’re doing at home! Every Indian has been nice to us. They’ve been great. We can’t wait to welcome them to Harare Sports Club, the Queen’s Sports Club and welcome them like we have,” Godwin said with a beaming smile.For now, Zimbabwe is assured of playing in the 2027 ODI World Cup and the 2028 T20 World Cup. This comes after a low of not qualifying for the 2019 and 2023 ODI World Cups as well as the 2021 and 2024 T20 World Cups. A year and a half ago, Zimbabwe played a regional qualifier to try to book a place in the ongoing edition.“You are talking about the pinnacle of Zimbabwean cricket. I think this team is following in those footsteps. If you look at the likes of (Brian) Bennett, Marumanis (Tadiwanashe Marumani), Muzarabanis (Blessing Muzarabani), they still have years ahead of them. They are still learning the game. And I believe they will reach good heights,” said winwin.
Raza pays tribute to Castle Corner
Finally on the field, Zimbabwe’s effort was in vain as South Africa crossed the finish line without much drama. Shortly after the winning runs were scored, Zimbabwe acknowledged their loyal fans who had spent considerable savings to be there. First, the playing eleven and support staff walked in front of the Gautam Gambhir stand to thank the fans. After completing his broadcasting duties, Sikandar Raza did the same but as a party leader.
Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe celebrates the wicket of Aiden Markram of South Africa during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 Super 8 match between Zimbabwe and South Africa at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on March 1, 2026 in Delhi, India. (Photo by Prakash Singh/Getty Images)
He thanked a small but vocal group of supporters that any team would be proud to call their own. In the post-match press conference, Raza shed light on their personal connection with the team.“We have a personal relationship with the Castle Corner fans,” Raza said. “We know every member by name. We know their families, their kids and everything. They are not just fans to us, they are very much part of our family. I want to say to them, ‘You are the champions of Zimbabwe for the support you guys have shown us and for the respect.'”
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Castle Corner has become a famous fan center at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Should more cricket boards support similar fan sections?
For the ‘Castle Corner’, the Zimbabwe cricket team’s 12th man’s next stop is the August tri-series in Namibia, which also includes South Africa. It will be another opportunity for Zimbabwe to beat the Proteas for the first time in a T20I. For now, the team and its fans can go home with their heads held high.
