India defeated Zimbabwe by 72 runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, to get their first win of the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

India’s victory over Zimbabwe has kept their semi-final hopes alive, and they now must defeat the West Indies to secure their place in the semi-finals. A defeat in that match will eliminate them from the tournament.

Batting first, India posted the second-highest total in T20 World Cup history, 256 for 4, to set a huge 257-run target for Zimbabwe.

Every batter from India contributed with the team. Abhishek Sharma finally showed his skills, scoring his maiden T20 World Cup half-century (55 off 30 balls).

Sanju Samson once again got the chance to open in this World Cup, scoring 24 runs in 15 balls, giving India their first 30+ opening stand in the ongoing event.

Ishan Kishan added 38 runs, while Suryakumar Yadav contributed a steady 33 to keep the innings on track. Hardik Pandya then shifted the game completely with a blistering 55 off just 23 balls, accelerating the scoring at a crucial phase.

Tilak Varma provided the perfect finish with a fearless 44 off 16 balls, as his explosive and confident hitting powered India to a massive total.

Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Tinotenda Maposa, and Sikandar Raza took 1 wicket each.

Chasing 257, Brian Bennett remained unbeaten on 97 off 59 balls, producing one of the finest individual innings of the tournament. Other than him, Sikandar Raza also contributed 31 off 21 balls to help his team score 184 for 6 in 20 overs.

Arshdeep Singh was the leading wicket-taker for India with three wickets. Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and Shivam Dube, dismissed one batter each.

Full Scorecard – India vs Zimbabwe ICC T20 World Cup 2026, February 26

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

Match Highlights & Key Moments

India secured a 72-run victory over Zimbabwe, giving them a boost ahead for their next fixture. India made two changes in their lineup compared to the previous match. First, Axar came in in place of Washington Sundar, and Sanju Samson replaced for Rinku Singh.

Indian batter smashed 256 runs. Brian Bennett from Zimbabwe amassed an unbeaten 97 to prevent his team from losing by a huge margin.

Player of the Match

Hardik Pandya was named the Player of the Match for his quick 50-run innings.

What This Result Means for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026

For India, this win was very important, and now they have to defeat the West Indies in the next fixture to reach the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals.

Zimbabwe were eliminated from the tournament after a strong run.

FAQs – Yesterday’s India vs Zimbabwe ICC T20 World Cup 2026

Q1: Who won yesterday’s India vs Zimbabwe match?

A1: India won by 72 runs in Chennai.

Q2: Who was the Player of the Match in India vs Zimbabwe?

A2: Hardik Pandya was named the Player of the Match for his 50 off 23 balls.

Q3: What was the final score of yesterday’s match?

A3: India vs Zimbabwe.

India 256 for 4 (Abhishek 55, Hardik 50) 

Zimbabwe 184 for 6 (Bennett 97*, Arshdeep 3-24)

Q4: What’s the next fixture of India and Zimbabwe in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8?

A4: India will face the West Indies on March 1 at Eden Gardens Stadium, Kolkata.

Zimbabwe will face South Africa on March 1 in Delhi.

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