India Dominate Zimbabwe With Record-Breaking Win to Keep Semifinal Hopes Alive

New Delhi | 26 Feb 2026

India produced a commanding all-round performance to defeat Zimbabwe by 72 runs in a crucial Super 8 match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Thursday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The emphatic victory keeps India firmly in the race for a place in the semifinals.

Batting first, India posted a massive 256 for four, the highest total ever scored by the team in T20 World Cups and also the highest overall in the tournament’s history. The innings was built on aggressive intent from the start, putting Zimbabwe under pressure early and never letting them recover.

Abhishek Sharma bounced back in style after a poor start to the tournament, smashing a quick 55 off just 30 balls to give India early momentum. Later, Hardik Pandya played a powerful knock of 50 not out from 23 deliveries, while Tilak Varma added finishing touches with an unbeaten 44 off 14 balls. The pair added 84 runs in just 31 balls, pushing the total to an imposing level.

On the other hand, Zimbabwe was unable to match the required pace and were restricted to 184 for six. India’s bowlers stayed disciplined and controlled the middle overs well, sealing a dominant win that not only boosted their confidence but also kept their World Cup campaign alive.