T20 World Cup: India beat Zimbabwe by 72 runs to keep title defence alive
BBC World
February 26, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
India secured a dominant 72-run victory over Zimbabwe in their T20 World Cup match in Chennai, extending their hopes of defending the title and eliminating Zimbabwe from the tournament. India posted an impressive total of 256-4, the second-highest in T20 World Cup history, thanks to stellar performances by openers Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya. Sharma top-scored with 55, while Pandya hit a 23-ball half-century off the final delivery. Zimbabwe, despite Brian Bennett's century and six, struggled to build partnerships and fell short of the target. This win keeps India on track for a semi-final spot, as they now share points with West Indies ahead of their crucial match against them.
India's high score was driven by explosive batting, with Sharma and Pandya leading the charge. Sharma, who had been under pressure after three previous ducks, set the tone with a 26-ball half-century. His partnership with Ishan Kishan yielded 72 runs, and Suryakumar Yadav capitalized on Zimbabwe's sloppy fielding to score 33 in quick fashion. Pandya's aggressive batting in the final overs sealed India's highest total in T20 World Cup history. Zimbabwe's bowlers struggled, leaking 3-197 across 14 overs, while their catching proved inconsistent after a near-flawless group stage.
Zimbabwe's inability to convert individual brilliance into team success was evident. Bennett's 97 from 59 balls, including eight fours and six sixes, showcased his talent but lacked support from teammates. Sikandar Raza was the next highest scorer with 31, highlighting Zimbabwe's struggle to build consistent partnerships. India's clinical performance in Chennai not only kept their semi-final hopes alive but also
Verticals
worldpolitics
Originally published on BBC World on 2/26/2026