India Sets Record with 256 Runs Against Zimbabwe in T20 World Cup Clash
India Dominates Zimbabwe in T20 World Cup Super Eight Match
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], February 26: In a thrilling Super Eight encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, India achieved an impressive score of 256 runs for 4 wickets against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday, establishing a formidable target of 257 runs.
This score marks India's second-highest in T20 World Cup history and the highest in the current tournament, ranking as the fifth-highest overall in T20 matches.
Zimbabwe now faces the challenge of executing a remarkable chase to secure a victory and keep their tournament hopes alive, having already lost to the West Indies in Group 1. Only two teams will advance to the semifinals from this group.
Opting to bat first, India opened with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, who returned to the lineup after making two changes, replacing Rinku Singh and Washington Sundar with Samson and Axar Patel.
The opening partnership yielded 48 runs in just 22 balls, with Samson scoring 24 runs, including one four and two sixes.
Ishan Kishan, batting at number three, contributed 38 runs off 24 balls, hitting four fours and a six. He formed a significant 72-run partnership for the second wicket with Abhishek Sharma, who scored 55 runs off 30 balls, marking his first T20 World Cup half-century with four sixes and as many fours.
Kishan was dismissed by Sikandar Raza in the 11th over, bringing Suryakumar Yadav to the crease. Yadav quickly made an impact, scoring 33 runs off just 13 balls, including three fours and two sixes, before being caught in the 15th over while attempting another six.
Tilak Varma, batting at number six, unleashed a flurry of runs, smashing four sixes and three fours in his unbeaten 44 runs off only 16 balls. He partnered with Hardik Pandya to add 84 runs for the fifth wicket.
Pandya finished with a score of 50 not out from 23 balls, featuring two fours and four sixes, which propelled India to their substantial target of 257 runs.
India's innings included 17 sixes, tying their record for the most sixes in a T20 World Cup innings, surpassing their previous record of 15 against Australia in the 2024 edition.
So far in this World Cup, India has hit a total of 63 sixes, the highest by any team in a single tournament, exceeding their previous record of 61 in 2024; only the West Indies' tally of 66 this edition is higher.
For Zimbabwe, Blessing Muzarabani, Tonitenda Maposa, Richard Ngarava, and Raza each claimed a wicket.
Brief Score: India 256/4 in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 55, Hardik Pandya 50*; Sikandar Raza 1/29).