Watch: “Pardon? I’m Bennett!” – Zimbabwe star batter’s calm reply after reporter’s press conference goof-up after IND vs ZIM Super 8 match

India took on Zimbabwe in their second Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup on February 26, 2026, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The Men in Blue registered a commanding 72-run victory, keeping their semi-final qualification hopes firmly intact.

Although India dominated the contest, but Zimbabwe showed strong intent with the bat in the chase after opting to field first. Opener Brian Bennett delivered an impressive performance, remaining unbeaten on 97 and narrowly missing out on a well-deserved T20 World Cup century against the India national cricket team.

After the match, a funny moment happened in the press conference when a journalist mistakenly confused Bennett with someone else.

Watch the video here: 

Funny Moment in Press Conference After T20 World Cup Clash

Zimbabwe batter Brian Bennett spoke to the media after his team’s T20 World Cup defeat against India. During the press conference, a journalist asked, “Bennett had a good chance to score a century. Why didn’t your batters give him a chance?”

The reporter did not realise that he was speaking to Bennett himself. The batter looked surprised and calmly replied, “Pardon? I’m Bennett.”

He did not seem upset. Instead, he smiled and answered the question in a simple way. He said a century would have been nice, but that is how cricket works. He added that he was happy to score runs against a strong team like India.

The moment made everyone in the room laugh. Bennett handled the situation with calmness and maturity. While the moment was funny, it also showed that journalists should be fully prepared before asking questions.

Also read -Watch: Star Indian batter fulfils special demand of Brad Evan's sister after IND vs ZIM Super 8 match

Bennett’s Rare Record and Rapid Rise

Brian Bennett became only the second player in T20 World Cup history to score 90 or more runs against India. The first was Chris Gayle, who made 98 runs in 2010. This makes Bennett’s record very special in the tournament’s history.

Bennett’s big domestic breakthrough came in the 2023–24 Logan Cup season. He scored an unbeaten 264 runs for the Mountaineers against the Mashonaland Eagles. He faced 259 balls in that innings. This knock proved that he could play long innings and helped him move quickly into Zimbabwe’s national team.

His rise has been very fast. Within two years of his domestic debut, Bennett scored a Test century and also took a five-wicket haul in the same match against Afghanistan. This showed that he can perform in different formats and become an important player for Zimbabwe.

Bennett’s Brilliant Knock Against India

Bennett was the only bright spot for Zimbabwe in the big run chase at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. He scored an unbeaten 97 runs from 59 balls, hitting eight fours and six sixes.

In his first-ever World Cup, Bennett has been in great form. He has scored 277 runs in five matches at an average of 277.00 and a strike rate above 135. He remained not out in four innings and scored three half-centuries. This 97 was his best knock of the tournament so far.

He is currently the second-highest run scorer in the tournament, behind Sahibzada Farhan, who has scored 283 runs.

The team led by Sikandar Raza has still enjoyed a memorable campaign. Zimbabwe reached the Super 8 stage for the first time and recorded strong wins over Australia and Sri Lanka in the group stage. Even defeat in yesterday's match, Bennett’s performance and calm attitude left a strong impression.