After a hard outing against South Africa in their previous game of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, the hosts and defending champions India have made a strong comeback with a fiery batting performance in their crucial second match of the Super Eights in the tournament. While Chennai is hosting the match on Thursday night (February 26), the Men in Blues recorded the second-highest total in the T20 World Cup history

All the Indian batters performed dominantly after Zimbabwe sent the hosts to bat first at Chennai. At first, the Indian openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma provided a strong start with a 48-run partnership in just 3.4 overs, where Sanju was dismissed after scoring 24 off 15 balls (1 four and 2 sixes). 

Later, Abhishek had a 72-run partnership with Ishan Kishan for the second wicket. The opener Abhishek slammed his first T20 World Cup half-century, as the left-handed batter scored 55 off 30 balls (4 fours and 4 sixes).

While Ishan Kishan and captain Suryakumar Yadav had a quick 30-run partnership for the third wicket, Ishan lost his wicket after scoring 38 off 24 balls (4 fours and 1 six). Suryakumar had another small 22-run fourth wicket partnership with Hardik Pandya, before the skipper lost his wicket for 33 runs in 13 balls (3 fours and 2 sixes).

In the slog overs, Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma were brutal with an 84-run partnership for the unbroken fifth wicket. While Hardik scored 50 not out off 23 balls (2 fours and 4 sixes), Tilak slammed 44 not out off 16 balls (3 fours and 4 sixes).

While India slammed 17 sixes in the innings, the Men in Blues scored 256/4 in 20 overs, the second-highest total in the history of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. 

Highest totals in ICC Men's T20 World Cup 

• Sri Lanka 260/4 vs Kenya (2007)
• India 256/4 vs Zimbabwe (2026)
• West Indies 254/6 vs Zimbabwe (2026)
• Ireland 235/5 vs Oman (2026)
• England 230/8 vs South Africa (2016)

Meanwhile, India recorded their fifth highest T20I total in the match. 

Highest T20I totals for India

• 297/6 vs Bangladesh at Hyderabad in 2024
• 283/1 vs South Africa at Johannesburg in 2024
• 271/5 vs New Zealand at Thiruvananthapuram in 2026
• 260/5 vs Sri Lanka at Indore in 2017
• 256/4 vs Zimbabwe at Chennai in 2026