Overview:
Samson (24 off 15) and Abhishek added 48 runs for the first wicket in 3.4 overs. After the wicket-keeper batter's dismissal, Ishan Kishan joined Abhishek in the middle, and the two went on a rampage.
Abhishek Sharma returned to form after failing in four games of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The southpaw, who opened the batting with Sanju Samson, completed his maiden fifty in 26 balls, with the help of 4 sixes and 3 fours. Abhishek recorded three ducks in the three consecutive games against the USA, Pakistan and the Netherlands. In the first Super 8 stage game against South Africa, he contributed just 15 runs.
However, the team management kept faith in his match-winning abilities, and the young batter was given a chance against Zimbabwe. He didn’t waste the chance and played an impactful knock in a must-win game for the Men in Blue after a below-par performance against the Proteas. Overall, he managed 55 runs in 30 balls, packed with 4 fours and as many sixes.
Samson (24 off 15) and Abhishek added 48 runs for the first wicket in 3.4 overs. After the wicket-keeper batter’s dismissal, Ishan Kishan joined Abhishek in the middle, and the two went on a rampage. The two stitched a stand of 72 runs, with Ishan amassing 38 runs in 24 deliveries, including 4 boundaries and 1 maximum.
Earlier, Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and invited the co-host to bat first. The defending champions replaced Rinku Singh and Washington Sundar with Samson and Axar Patel.
Playing XIs
India: 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Sanju Samson (wk), 3 Ishan Kishan, 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Shivam Dube, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Varun Chakravarthy, 11 Jasprit Bumrah
Zimbabwe: 1 Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), 2 Brian Bennett, 3 Dion Myers, 4 Ryan Burl, 5 Sikandar Raza (capt), 6 Tony Munyonga, 7 Tashinga Musekiwa, 8 Brad Evans, 9 Tinotenda Maposa, 10 Blessing Muzarabani, 11 Richard Ngarava