India Beat Zimbabwe by 72 Runs in Super 8 Match, Stay Alive in the semi-final race

February 27, 2026: The Indian cricket team moved one step closer to the semi-finals of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 after an impressive win over Zimbabwe national cricket team at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The win made India’s path to the semi-finals easier. Hardik Pandya received the Player of the Match award for his all-round performance.

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and chose to bat first. Indian openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma gave a strong and explosive start. India posted their highest-ever T20 World Cup total by scoring 256/4 in 20 overs. Hardik Pandya and Abhishek Sharma scored half-centuries.

India Post 256 Runs in First Innings

Zimbabwe opener Brian Bennett played a brilliant innings, scoring 97 runs from 59 balls with 8 fours and 6 sixes. He remained not out. He also hit Shivam Dube for 26 runs in one over. Dube gave 46 runs in his two overs.

For India, Ishan Kishan scored 38 runs, and Suryakumar Yadav scored 33 runs. Pandya scored 50* and Tilak Varma scored 44* as India reached 256 runs.
 

India stay in the hunt for a #T20WorldCup semis spot with a splendid win over Zimbabwe ✨

📝: https://t.co/XB78VZ8s3p pic.twitter.com/hGL1LzLvmz

— ICC (@ICC) February 26, 2026

Semi-Final Qualification Scenario

The 256 runs total is the second-highest in T20 World Cup history. India missed the highest record by just four runs. The record is held by Sri Lanka national cricket team, who scored 260 runs in 2007.

India now need to beat West Indies cricket team in their last Super 8 match on March 1 at Eden Gardens to reach the semi-finals.

Brief Scores

India: 256/4 (Abhishek-55, Hardik-50*)
Zimbabwe: 184/6 (Bennett-97*, Arshdeep-3/24)
India won by 72 runs