India Vs Zimbabwe Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Brian Bennett’s 97 Goes In Vain As IND Seal 72-Run Win

Good afternoon and welcome, everyone! We have a double-header at the T20 World Cup today. In the second match, India meet Zimbabwe in Chennai. Watch this space for the build-up and live updates from the Super Eights clash.

The Super 8 match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 between India and Zimbabwe will be streamed live on the Jio Hotstar app and website in India. It will also be telecast live on the Star Sports Network. The live action will begin at 7:00 PM IST, while the toss takes place at 6:30 PM.

The Chennai outing marks only the second meeting between the two teams in the T20 World Cups. India thrashed Zimbabwe by 71 runs in their 2022 World Cup group game at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Suryakumar Yadav hit an unbeaten 61 off 25 to help India post 186/5, then a six-pronged attack led by Ravichandran Ashwin (3/22) dismantled the Zimbabweans.

Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder helped West Indies make a superb recovery and post a competitive total of 176/8 against South Africa. But SA openers Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock have given a tremendous start to the team, scoring 53 runs in just 5 overs.

Follow our WI vs SA live blog.

India vs Zimbabwe, ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8s at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium is forecast to be dry and clear on match day, with no rain expected and warm conditions throughout play. Humidity may rise in the evening, but rain won’t interrupt the contest. Temperatures will remain around the low-30s °C, ideal for an uninterrupted T20 clash

6 p.m.: 29°C, 0% rain

7 p.m.: 28°C, 0% rain

8 p.m.: 29°C, 0% rain

9 p.m.: 28°C, 0% rain

10 p.m.: 28°C, 0% rain

11 p.m.: 27°C, 0% rain

Former India batter Virender Sehwag has advised the team management to leave out Abhishek Sharma for the clash against Zimbabwe, stressing that India should select the playing XI purely on current form for the must-win encounter.

"If I was there, I would have given Abhishek Sharma a break and try Sanju Samson instead. This is the only match where you can try, because if India lose this game, then they are out. Since this is such an important match, India have to pick their best playing XI on the basis of form," Sehwag said in a show on Cricbuzz.

South Africa (177/1) defeated West Indies (176/8) by nine wickets in their T20 World Cup 2026, Super 8 match on Thursday in Ahmedabad. This result comes as a huge boost for India, putting their qualification destiny firmly in their own hands. If Suryakumar Yadav and his team manage to win both remaining matches, a semifinal spot will be guaranteed.

Both teams' captain have exchanged the team sheets. Meanwhile, Sanju Samson and Axar Patel were spotted taking a look at the surface at Chepaul. So, who do you think gonna get dropped?

Zimbabwe won the toss and opted to bowl first.

Zimbabwe (Playing XI): Tadiwanashe Marumani(w), Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza(c), Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Tinotenda Maposa, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava

India (Playing XI): Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah

Sanju Samson and Axar Patel are in for Rinku Singh and Washington Sundar, told India captain Suryakumar Yadav at the toss. He also said, "Happy with the decision, were looking to bat first. Boys are ready. Mood in the camp is relaxed. Huddle was too good, the way he spoke in the huddle (Hardik). Even if you win or lose, you learn something out of it. Just forget what happened in the last game."

Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma are out in the middle, with Samson set to face the first delivery as Richard Ngarava prepares to begin the bowling attack.

Sanju Samson wasted no time settling in, launching Richard Ngarava for a towering six before cracking a boundary to keep the scoreboard ticking. A couple of smart singles and quick running helped India finish the opening over strongly at 13 without loss. Abhishek Sharma is yet to get strike, while Samson looks confident early on.

IND 13/0 (1)

Good over for India again as Sanju Samson stays aggressive at the top. He picked Muzarabani’s short ball early and pulled it effortlessly for a big six, adding a couple more runs through smart running. India move to 23/0 after two overs, with Samson looking in fine touch.

Abhishek Sharma joins the party, capitalising on wayward bowling with a couple of cracking boundaries and finishing the over with a superb six. Extras didn’t help Zimbabwe either as wides and a no-ball added to their misery. India race ahead to 46/0 after three overs, with both openers attacking freely.

Breakthrough for Zimbabwe just when India were cruising. Blessing Muzarabani outfoxes Sanju Samson with a clever slower short ball, and the opener mistimes his pull straight to Ryan Burl at deep mid-wicket. Samson departs after an attacking 24, bringing Ishan Kishan to the crease. A tidy over pulls things back slightly as India move to 49/1 after four overs.

India finish the powerplay in commanding fashion, racing to 80/1 with Abhishek Sharma shifting gears brilliantly. The left-hander capped the sixth over with a towering six off Richard Ngarava, punishing anything in his arc, while Ishan Kishan provided solid support at the other end. Despite losing Sanju Samson earlier, India completely dominated the first six overs with aggressive intent.

A quiet phase for India after the powerplay as Zimbabwe manage to slow things down nicely. Just singles coming in this over, with the spinners beginning to apply the brakes and break India’s momentum. Only 10 runs have come in the last two overs, and Zimbabwe will look to tighten the screws further through spin as Kishan and Abhishek rebuild.

IND 90/1 (8)

India continue to keep the scoreboard ticking, moving to 109/1 after 10 overs with Abhishek Sharma closing in on a well-deserved fifty. The left-hander stepped out beautifully to launch Brian Bennett for a clean six over long-on, helping India reach 100 in just 9.1 overs, their third-fastest in T20 World Cups. Zimbabwe missed a crucial chance again as Musekiwa dropped Ishan Kishan, adding to his fielding woes after spilling two catches in the previous game, much to Bennett’s frustration.

A mixed over for India but a big milestone achieved as Abhishek Sharma brings up a fine half-century, reaching the mark with a confident flick and soaking in a loud cheer from the crowd. Just when India looked set to accelerate further, Sikandar Raza struck back by dismissing Ishan Kishan, who mistimed a cut straight to backward point after a fluent 38.

IND 125/2 (11)

India keep the scoring rate high but lose a big wicket in the process. Abhishek Sharma’s entertaining knock comes to an end on 55 as he mistimes a slower delivery from Maposa straight to Sikandar Raza at long-on. It’s a much-needed breakthrough for Zimbabwe after a costly over, while Hardik Pandya walks in with India still firmly in control at 151/3 after 13 overs.

India continue to push hard in the death overs but lose Suryakumar Yadav after a quickfire cameo. Ngarava’s change of angle does the trick as Surya miscues his aggressive shot, and Musekiwa finally holds on after multiple dropped chances earlier in the tournament. Tilak Varma arrives and makes an instant impact with a boundary as India move to 176/4 after 15 overs, keeping the momentum alive.

India cross the 200-run mark with another strong over as Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma keep the late surge going. A boundary and a clean six ensure the momentum stays firmly with the hosts, while Zimbabwe struggle to contain the flow despite a couple of dot balls at the end. India move to a commanding 201/4 after 17 overs, eyeing a massive finish.

Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma unleash absolute mayhem, smashing two massive sixes along with a boundary as Zimbabwe’s bowlers come under severe pressure. Tilak is striking it beautifully while Hardik provides the finishing punch, helping India surge to a massive 241/4 after 19 overs with a huge total now firmly in sight.

Hardik Pandya brings up a blazing half-century in style, launching Brad Evans for a massive six to cap off the innings and take India to the highest total of this T20 World Cup. The late onslaught from Hardik and Tilak Varma powers India to a stunning 256/4, ending the innings on a dominant high.

Innings Break.

Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani walk out to begin Zimbabwe’s chase, with Bennett set to take strike as Arshdeep Singh prepares to open the bowling for India.

A steady over for Zimbabwe despite an early boundary. Marumani picked up a six to release some pressure, but Arshdeep Singh responded well by tightening his lines and conceding only dots thereafter. Zimbabwe move to 10/0 after two overs, still with plenty of work ahead in this massive chase.

A controlled over from India as the bowlers continue to keep things tight despite Zimbabwe holding onto both wickets. Just singles and twos on offer with no boundary allowed, slowing the chase further. Zimbabwe move to 25/0 after four overs, but the required rate keeps climbing steadily in this massive run chase.

A better over for Zimbabwe as Brian Bennett finds the boundary early with a six, trying to keep the chase alive. However, India quickly pull things back with disciplined bowling, allowing mostly singles and twos afterward. Zimbabwe move to 44/0 after six overs, but the asking rate still remains steep.

As per Cricinfo, India need to defeat Zimbabwe by at least 108 runs to move past West Indies on Net Run Rate in the Super 8 standings, making the victory margin just as crucial as the result itself.

Axar Patel delivers an immediate impact for India, breaking the opening stand with a crucial wicket. Marumani, who survived earlier chances, fails to capitalise and slices a cut straight to Ishan Kishan at cover-point. A tight over follows with minimal scoring as Axar keeps things under control, leaving Zimbabwe at 48/1 after seven overs with the chase slipping further away.

Varun Chakaravarthy tightens India’s grip with a crucial breakthrough, dismissing Dion Myers with a well-disguised googly. Myers mistimes his swipe and skies it straight to Tilak Varma at deep mid-wicket. Just three runs come from the over as Varun keeps things extremely tight, leaving Zimbabwe struggling at 73/2 after 10 overs with the required rate spiralling further.

Brian Bennett brings up a fighting half-century with a stunning six off Jasprit Bumrah, backing away and hammering the short ball flat over long-on with remarkable power. Despite the milestone, India continue to keep things under control as Bumrah concedes mostly singles around that big hit. Zimbabwe reach 97/2 after 13 overs, still facing a massive uphill task in the chase.

Arshdeep Singh comes and straight away makes an impact by getting the priced wicket of Sikandar Raza. The Zimbabwean skipper goes after smashing 31 off 21 balls. Ryan Burl joins Bennett in the middle and gets trapped in front of the wickets on his 2nd ball. Arshdeep Singh gets two in the over.

ZIM 152/4 (17)

Zimbabwe finish on 184/6 as India seal a convincing 72-run victory, though it’s not enough to hit the 108-run margin they needed for a Net Run Rate boost past West Indies. Brian Bennett falls heartbreakingly short of a century, ending unbeaten on 97 after smashing a six and a four in the final over. Shivam Dube mixed it up with slower balls to pick up a wicket, while Sanju Samson pulled off a sharp catch behind the stumps. India dominate the contest, but the NRR equation still remains tight heading into the next game.

Both India and West Indies now have two points from two matches in the Super 8 stage, with the Caribbean side currently placed higher due to a superior Net Run Rate. The two teams are set to clash on Sunday in what is effectively a knockout encounter, despite being a Super 8 fixture. The winner will secure a place in the semifinals, while the losing side will see their T20 World Cup campaign come to an end.

"Pretty happy. I mean, yeah, it sounds strange 23-ball 50, but I think I had to reassess in the situation as well. What I meant by that, I felt I was trying to hit too hard. And just in the game, I realized, I think I can time the ball and hit sixes as well. So I think for me, it was a good game to continue the rhythm because I feel a couple of games I had which I could not do what I wanted to do. So really satisfied.

"Definitely we were keeping an eye (on South Africa vs West Indies game), but at the same point of time, once the game got over, we focused that this is our game."

"I think we wanted to leave everything behind. We didn’t think too much about what we did in the league stage or in the last game in Ahmedabad (vs South Africa). Our video analyst had prepared a slide for all the batters and bowlers, highlighting what we’ve done well over the past year. We looked at that, took a lot of positivity from it, and came here with clarity," said India captain Suryakumar Yadav.

"With contributions from the top order right down to number seven, I think there was hardly anything missing in our performance. To be very honest, we could have been a little more clinical with the ball. But at the end of the day, a win is a win, and we’ll take it as we move forward," he added.

Talking about India's do-or-die game against West Indies, the skipper said, "We’ll definitely tighten a few screws when we go and play the West Indies cricket team. Once we reach Kolkata, we’ll sit down and plan properly for that game."

England and New Zealand will be clashing against each other tomorrow and the contest carries a lot of importance, especially for Pakistan. A win for NZ would mean a direct elimination for the Men in Green.

Thank you for joining, tune in tomorrow for more live blogs.