India and Zimbabwe lock horns in a crucial Super 8 encounter of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 on Thursday, February 26. With both teams losing their opening Group 1 matches - India to South Africa and Zimbabwe to West Indies,the contest has turned into a virtual knockout. Two points are essential for both sides to stay alive in the race for the semifinals.
India must not only beat Zimbabwe and West Indies but also hope that one of those teams upsets South Africa to improve their net run-rate equation.
Head-to-head record
India last hosted Zimbabwe in a men’s international in 2002. Since then, the teams have met 13 times in T20Is, either in Zimbabwe or at neutral venues. India have won 10 of those matches, while Zimbabwe have claimed three victories.
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Key players to watch
Ishan Kishan has been one of India’s standout performers, scoring two half-centuries in the tournament and providing stability at the top of the order.
Varun Chakravarthy had a rare quiet outing against South Africa in Ahmedabad and will aim to bounce back strongly in familiar conditions at Chennai.
For Zimbabwe, captain Sikandar Raza remains the key figure. His subdued show against West Indies highlighted the team’s reliance on him, but he has the ability to turn games, as seen in his recent match-winning effort against Sri Lanka.
Fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani could challenge Indian batters with his pace and bounce, especially on a batting-friendly surface.
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Who has the edge?
India begin as favourites. Despite their loss to South Africa, Suryakumar Yadav’s side appears stronger on paper. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, struggled to adjust to the flat pitch in Mumbai after playing on slower tracks in Colombo, which could again test their adaptability.
Match details
The India vs Zimbabwe Super 8 match (No. 48) will be played on Thursday, February 26, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The match will start at 7 pm IST, with the toss scheduled for 6:30 pm.
The game will be livestreamed in India on the JioHotstar website and app.
