INDIA BLITZ ZIMBABWE WITH RECORD 256 AT CHEPAUK — SEMI-FINAL SPOT IN SIGHT
Abhishek Sharma’s maiden World Cup fifty, Ishan Kishan’s blistering 38, Suryakumar’s explosive cameo, and a brutal Hardik-Tilak finish power India to their highest-ever T20 World Cup total as Men in Blue fight back in Super 8s
CHENNAI, February 26, 2026 — India delivered a statement batting performance at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday night, posting a mammoth 256/4 — the highest total of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 so far — against Zimbabwe in a must-win Super 8 Group 1 encounter
Put in to bat by Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza, India wasted no time setting the Chepauk crowd alight. Opener Sanju Samson provided an electric start before being dismissed by Blessing Muzarabani for 24 off 15 balls, caught by Ryan Burl at deep mid-wicket off a slower short ball
From there, it was Abhishek Sharma who took centre stage. The young left-hander, who had endured a difficult tournament with three ducks heading into this game, responded emphatically. Abhishek brought up his first World Cup half-century in just 26 balls — his second-slowest fifty-plus T20I score — with the crowd roaring him on at Chepauk He anchored the innings with a fluent 55 before being dismissed by Tinotenda Maposa, caught by Sikandar Raza at long-on.
Joining Abhishek in the middle, Ishan Kishan continued to entertain. Kishan smashed a boundary straight down the ground and followed it with a towering six off Sikandar Raza before falling for a brisk 38 off 24 balls, caught at backward point. Zimbabwe’s fielding woes proved costly — they gifted both Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav a life each, with dropped catches proving expensive throughout.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav, fresh from a team huddle where he had urged his side to “be fearless,” walked in and delivered exactly that. Surya blazed 33 off just 13 balls at a strike rate of 253.85 before being caught by Tashinga Musekiwa off Richard Ngarava.
The real destruction, however, came in the death overs. Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma stitched a rapid partnership that completely overwhelmed Zimbabwe’s bowling attack, with Hardik finishing unbeaten on a blazing fifty as India crossed the 250 mark for the first time in this tournament. Tilak remained unbeaten on 44 off just 16 balls at a staggering strike rate of 275.
For Zimbabwe, Richard Ngarava was the most expensive bowler, conceding 62 runs in his four overs, while Muzarabani (1/43) and Raza (1/29) offered some control but not enough to contain India’s onslaught.
The result puts India’s semi-final destiny firmly in their own hands. South Africa had beaten West Indies earlier in the day in Ahmedabad, meaning India simply need to win their remaining matches to guarantee a last-four spot.
Zimbabwe now face an almost impossible chase under the Chepauk lights.
Zimbabwe are yet to bat. This report will be updated.
