Defending champions India kept their T20 World Cup semi-final hopes alive with a dominant 72-run win over Zimbabwe in Chennai.
India posted 256-4, the second-highest total in T20 World Cup history, trailing only Sri Lanka’s 260-6 against Kenya in 2007. Opener Abhishek Sharma led the charge with 55 off 30 balls, striking four fours and four sixes. All-rounder Hardik Pandya reached a quick 50 off 23 balls, finishing with a six, while Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 44 from 16 deliveries.
Zimbabwe fought back, with opener Brian Bennett scoring an unbeaten 97 from 59 balls, including eight fours and six sixes. However, he received little support, with Sikandar Raza scoring just 31 from 21 deliveries.
Now level on points with the West Indies, India will secure a semi-final spot with a win over the two-time champions in Kolkata on Sunday. South Africa, who beat the West Indies by nine wickets, also join England in qualifying for the semi-finals.
India had a strong group stage, winning all four matches and passing 190 twice, but they stumbled in their Super 8 opener against South Africa, being bowled out for 111 while chasing 187. In Chennai, India showed no nerves, posting their highest T20 World Cup total and surpassing 250 in a men’s T20 international for the fifth time.
Sharma, under pressure after three ducks in his previous four innings, set the tone with a 26-ball fifty. His 72-run partnership with Ishan Kishan (38) built a solid foundation, while Suryakumar Yadav punished Zimbabwe’s sloppy fielding with 33 off 13 balls. Zimbabwe dropped five catches in 15 attempts during the Super 8s, a sharp contrast to their 95.2% efficiency in the group stage.
After Yadav’s departure, Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma added 84 runs in the final 5.1 overs, hitting seven sixes between them. Pandya accelerated from 12 to 50 not out in just 23 balls, while Varma struck seven boundaries from 16 deliveries.
Zimbabwe’s pace attack leaked 197 runs from 14 overs, leaving India in full control and reinforcing their chances of reaching the last four.
