IND vs ZIM, T20 World Cup 2026: Tilak Varma savours India’s dominant win over Zimbabwe
STORY IN BRIEF:
India beat Zimbabwe by 72 runs to get its first win in the Super Eights of T20 World Cup 2026
All India batters scored with strike-rates above 150
Tilak Varma scored a 16-ball 44 and said he was comfortable to bat at No. 6 if the team needed it
Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett scored an unbeaten 97
Bennett said chasing 258 was always difficult and the aim was to play freely
The Indian batters had a field day against Zimbabwe, each scoring at a strike-rate of more than 150. The wrecker-in-chief was Tilak Varma, who smashed his unbeaten 44 (16b, 3×4, 4×6) at a whopping strike-rate of 275.
The batter shed light on how everything clicked for the Men in Blue’s willow-wielders at the MAC Stadium on Thursday.
“We were just looking for this. When the openers give a good start, the same confidence [trickles down] to Numbers 3, 4 and 5. Samson started brilliantly, and everyone followed [in the same vein],” Tilak said after India’s 72-run win in the ICC T20 World Cup Super Eight game.
“We wanted to continue hitting even if we had lost three or four wickets in the PowerPlay. We wanted to back our rhythm and put fear in the opposition bowlers that these guys were ready to hit each and every ball.”
RELATED: India sets up virtual quarterfinal against West Indies after steamrolling Zimbabwe
On being demoted to No. 6, Tilak said, “I always say that whatever the team needs, I am up for it. I’ve done the same role for the Mumbai Indians, and I’ve done a few games for the Indian team, too.”
Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett, who scored an unbeaten 97, said he did not mind missing out on a century. “It would have been nice. But cricket is just like that sometimes. You are not going to get to the landmark always,” he said.
On pursuing a mammoth target, he added, “Chasing 257 was always going to be tough. The chat was to go out there and express ourselves, and don’t worry about the scoreboard.”
Published on Feb 27, 2026
