India roared back into semifinal contention at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with a commanding 72-run win over Zimbabwe in a high-stakes Super Eight clash in Chennai on Thursday, producing their most explosive batting display of the tournament when it mattered most.
Powered by half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya, and a clinical three-wicket burst from Arshdeep Singh, India posted their highest-ever T20 World Cup total before sealing a morale-boosting victory that sets up a virtual knockout against West Indies on March 1.
With one win and one loss in the Super Eight stage, India now sit level with West Indies, while South Africa has already qualified for the semifinals after two straight victories.
India unleashes batting firepower
Asked to bat first, India piled up a staggering 256/4 in 20 overs — their highest total in T20 World Cup history and the second-highest overall in the tournament’s history, behind Sri Lanka’s 260 against Kenya in 2007.
The tone was set early by Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, who replaced Rinku Singh and Washington Sundar in the playing XI. The pair added 48 in just 22 balls before Samson fell for 24.
Ishan Kishan then joined Abhishek to add 72 runs for the second wicket, taking India to 80/1 at the end of the powerplay. Kishan made a brisk 38 off 24 before Abhishek brought up his maiden T20 World Cup fifty in just 26 balls, finishing with 55 from 30 deliveries, including four fours and four sixes.
Suryakumar Yadav chipped in with a 13-ball 33, but the real carnage came at the death.
Tilak Varma smashed an unbeaten 44 off just 16 balls, while Hardik Pandya struck a measured yet destructive 50 not out off 23 balls. The duo added 84 runs for the fifth wicket, collecting 40 runs across the 18th and 19th overs alone.
India hammered 17 sixes in the innings — their joint-highest in a T20 World Cup match — taking their tally to 63 sixes in this edition, their most ever in a single tournament.
Every batter in the top six scored at a strike rate above 150, marking the first instance in T20 World Cup history where a team’s top six each scored 20-plus at such a rate.
Zimbabwe fight, but fall short
Chasing an imposing 257, Zimbabwe began cautiously, reaching 44/0 in the powerplay. Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani built a steady opening stand before Axar Patel broke through.
Zimbabwe were 73/2 at the halfway mark, but Bennett continued to anchor the chase with composure and calculated aggression. The 22-year-old brought up his third fifty of the tournament in 34 balls and stitched a 72-run partnership with skipper Sikandar Raza.
Bennett’s counterattack peaked in the 15th over when he plundered 26 runs off Shivam Dube. However, Arshdeep Singh turned the tide in the 17th over, dismissing Raza for 31 and trapping Ryan Burl lbw in the same spell.
Arshdeep finished with 3/24, removing Tony Munyonga later to seal India’s control. Zimbabwe eventually closed at 184/6, with Bennett stranded unbeaten on a magnificent 97 off 59 balls — the highest individual score by a Zimbabwean in T20 World Cup history.
His innings, featuring eight fours and six sixes, is also the second-highest score against India in T20 World Cups, behind Chris Gayle’s 98 in 2010.
Despite the defeat, Zimbabwe can take pride in a spirited campaign that included group-stage wins over Australia and Sri Lanka — their best-ever T20 World Cup showing.
“We wanted to leave everything behind”: Suryakumar
India captain Suryakumar Yadav said the team consciously moved on from their heavy defeat to South Africa earlier in the Super Eight stage.
“We wanted to leave everything behind. We didn’t think too much about what happened in the last game,” he said.
He credited a detailed review session led by the team’s analysts for helping players regain confidence.
“With contributions from all the batters from top till number seven, it was heartening to see. With the ball, we could have been a little more clinical, but a win is a win.”
Pandya finds rhythm at the right time
Named Player of the Match, Hardik Pandya said he had to reassess his approach midway through his innings.
“It sounds like a 23-ball 50, but I had to reassess. I was trying to hit too hard. Then I realised I can just time the ball and still clear the ropes,” he said.
Pandya also bowled three overs for 21 runs, offering control with the new ball.
“It was a good game to continue the rhythm. Now it’s about backing our skill set and absorbing the pressure.”
Knockout in Kolkata awaits
The result sets up a blockbuster clash against West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, effectively a quarterfinal for the second semifinal spot from the group.
India will need another complete performance to progress — but after finally unleashing their full batting arsenal in Chennai, belief has returned to the camp.
Brief scores:
India 256/4 (Abhishek Sharma 55, Hardik Pandya 50*, Tilak Varma 44*); Zimbabwe 184/6 (Brian Bennett 97*, Sikandar Raza 31); India won by 72 runs.
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