Watch: MS Dhoni gets special tribute from Zimbabwe fan during IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup 2026 clash

India emerged with a resounding 72-run win over Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. India, batting first, scored a record-breaking 256/4 in 20 overs, the second-highest team score in the T20 World Cup. In reply, Zimbabwe scored 184/6, although they batted well, ultimately falling short. This win keeps India's semi-final hopes alive and sets up a critical virtual quarter-final match against West Indies.

In the midst of all this, a special incident off the field took center stage. A Zimbabwe fan in the stands shared a special message about MS Dhoni. The fan said, “When you see Chennai, you are really reminded of MS Dhoni. The greatest player.” The video quickly went viral across social media platforms. The comment showed how deeply Chennai is connected with Dhoni’s legacy.

The emotional tribute once again showed Dhoni’s deep connection with Chennai. Even though he was not part of the match, his presence was strongly felt at Chepauk. Thousands of fans wearing the iconic No. 7 jersey filled the stadium. The chants of “Thala” echoed around the ground, proving his legendary status in the city. However, MS Dhoni is likely to feature throughout the IPL 2026 season starting next month. Though his workload may be managed at the age of 44, he is confirmed to be available for the season to help CSK rebuild.

India Register Record 256/4 to Seal Dominant 72-Run Victory

In the match, India’s batting was explosive. Abhishek Sharma led the charge with a blazing 55 off 30 balls, while Hardik Pandya smashed an unbeaten 50 off 23 balls. Tilak Varma gave India a late innings boost with a quickfire 44 off 16 balls*, leading India to their record-breaking score.

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See Also: Watch: Brian Bennett’s lightning reflexes save his wicket vs India in T20 World Cup 2026

The Zimbabwean chase was a remarkable individual performance by Brian Bennett, who remained unbeaten on 97 off 59 balls, just three runs short of a century. Sikandar Raza chipped in with 31 off 21 balls, but it was not enough for the visitors. India bowling, led by Arshdeep Singh with disciplined spell of 3/24 helped to seal a comfortable 72-run win on a memorable night in Chennai.