There was a release of pressure when the left-handed opening batter of the Indian side, Abhishek Sharma, got a first-ball boundary against South Africa in their opening clash of Super 8 stage in the T20 World Cup 2026. But that knock didn’t end well for him. And focus shifted on him as the blue brigade made their way to the second encounter against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. 

Abhishek Sharma looked in a different mood as he thumped Tinotenda Maposa over the bowler’s head for a straight boundary before repeating nearly the same shot off the free-hit to get the same result. On the very last ball of the same over, the southpaw read the slower ball and cleared his front leg to club it over the long-on region for a massive six.

See Also: Watch: Abhishek Sharma smashes Tinotenda Maposa for two fours and one six in single over during IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup 2026

The timing seemed to have returned for the Punjab-born, as he again used the pace to time the slower length ball in the slot outside the off-stump and put it over the cow corner region for a massive 80-meter six.

Abhishek Sharma bags maiden T20 World Cup 2026 fifty in IND vs ZIM clash

Abhishek’s third six of the evening came on the last ball of the powerplay when he picked the length ball in the slot outside the off stump and minimized it with disdain over the bowler’s head for a massive six. His next six came at the half-way mark when he launched the ball over the long-on fielder.

Watch the video here: 

A well-constructed half-century for #AbhishekSharma! 👏

His first in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and what an occasion to bring it up! 💙

ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup 👉 SUPER 8, #INDvZIM | LIVE NOW ➡️ https://t.co/vIdZg7mGmy pic.twitter.com/vIVUWHYhSe

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 26, 2026

Abhishek celebrated his first fifty of the T20 World Cups in just 26 balls, thanks to the single he got to deep mid-wicket region. It was a relief in the Indian camp, who trusted on the youngster so much, and when they needed him the most, he has finally fire up in a vital evening.

Earlier in the game, Sanju Samson smashed 24 runs in just 15 balls with the help of two sixes and one boundary, while Ishan Kishan, demoted at number three, collected 38 runs in 24 balls, shouldering on four boundaries and one six at a strike rate of 160. India made their way to 134/2 in just 12 overs.

Brief Scores: India 150/3 (Abhishek Sharma 55, Ishan Kishan 38, Blessing Muzurabani 1/13) vs Zimbabwe.