Shivam Dube, left, captain Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: The uncertainty surrounding India’s campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has finally cleared. After a dramatic round of Super 8 matches, the defending champions now have a straightforward path to the knockouts.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!South Africa’s commanding nine-wicket win over West Indies in Ahmedabad confirmed the Proteas’ place in the semi-finals from Group 1. Later in the day, India strengthened their position with a resounding 72-run victory over Zimbabwe in Chennai.With Zimbabwe eliminated and South Africa already through, the final Group 1 clash between India and West Indies at Eden Gardens on Sunday has effectively turned into a virtual quarterfinal.

India Semifinal Qualification Scenario

The equation is simple: India must beat the West Indies to qualify for the semi-finals.Both teams currently sit on two points from two matches. The winner of Sunday’s encounter will join South Africa in the last four.There is, however, one small caveat. If the match is washed out due to rain — and there is no reserve day — West Indies would advance on the basis of a superior net run rate, knocking India out of the tournament. At present, though, there is no forecast suggesting weather disruption in Kolkata.In short, the calculators are back in the bag. For India, it is purely a win-and-progress scenario.

India’s qualification push gathered serious momentum after a batting masterclass against Zimbabwe. Posting 256/4 — the second-highest total in men’s T20 World Cup history — India entertained home fans with a barrage of sixes.Abhishek Sharma returned to form with a blistering half-century, while Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma provided a thunderous finish. Zimbabwe fought back through Brian Bennett’s unbeaten 97, but India’s bowlers ensured a comfortable victory.Earlier, South Africa’s clinical chase of 177 against West Indies reshaped the group. A rapid opening partnership between Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock made light work of the target, underlining why the Proteas remain unbeaten in the tournament.

Suryakumar Yadav (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: It was a must-win game for India to stay alive in the T20 World Cup semifinal race, and they delivered in emphatic fashion. Defending champions India crushed Zimbabwe by 72 runs in their Super Eights clash at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, keeping their hopes alive while giving their net run rate a much-needed boost.Batting first, India posted a mammoth 256 for four, thanks to a blazing 55 from opener Abhishek Sharma and an unbeaten 50 from Hardik Pandya. Zimbabwe, who had stunned Australia and Sri Lanka to reach the Super Eights, could only manage 184 for six in reply, leaving India in complete control and setting up a winner-takes-all clash against the West Indies on Sunday.

“We wanted to leave everything behind. We didn’t think too much about what we did in the league stage or in the last game in Ahmedabad. Our video analyst had prepared a slide for all the batters and bowlers, highlighting what we’ve done well over the past year. We looked at that, took a lot of positivity from it, and came here with clarity,” Suryakumar Yadav said after the match.“With contributions from the top order right down to number seven, I think there was hardly anything missing in our performance. To be very honest, we could have been a little more clinical with the ball. But at the end of the day, a win is a win, and we’ll take it as we move forward.”The victory also confirmed South Africa’s place in the semifinals after their nine-wicket win over West Indies.“We’ll definitely tighten a few screws when we go and play the West Indies cricket team. I don’t want to take any credit away from the Zimbabwean batters. I think they batted beautifully. Yes, the wicket was good, but the way they approached the innings — taking their time in the powerplay and then accelerating smartly — was impressive,” Suryakumar added.India’s left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh starred with the ball, returning 3 for 24 from his four overs. Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett was left with the consolation of an unbeaten 97, the highest individual score by a Zimbabwean in T20 World Cup history, as his side bowed out of semifinal contention despite a promising start.“Credit goes to them as well. From a bowling point of view, though, we could have been a little smarter with certain options at key moments. In situations like this, we need to be courageous with our decisions. There’s no option other than taking the positive route. Once we reach Kolkata, we’ll sit down and plan properly for that game. For now, it’s about taking a day off, travelling, and relaxing,” Surya concluded.

Abhishek Sharma scored his maiden half-century in the T20 World Cup.
| Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam

Speaking on JioHotstar, former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra shared his thoughts on the off-spin challenge for India’s left-handers and the method to counter Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza.

Chopra highlighted how off-spinners have become India’s biggest headache in the tournament. He said, “Every delivery bowled by off-spinners to the Indian openers is slightly short, wide, and fired in. They are not giving any room. That is exactly what happened against the Netherlands, South Africa and Pakistan. Whether it was Aryan Dutt, Salman Ali Agha or Aiden Markram, everyone followed the same plan against the Indian batters, especially the left-handers.”

“They have tied them down. In fact, no team has lost more wickets than India against finger spinners, especially off-spinners, in this World Cup. Off-spinners are usually considered easier bowlers to play. But in this tournament, the story has been quite painful from India’s point of view,” Chopra said.

On how India should approach against Sikandar Raza’s bowling, Chopra said, “Sikandar Raza will bowl fast and follow the left-handed batters. He will keep the ball around the stumps. He is not going to bowl slower deliveries as Markram did. That is not his plan. He does not even need to change the pace much. India have two left-handers in Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma opening the innings. To counter Raza, they should bring Suryakumar Yadav at number three. He is the Captain and should lead from the front.”

“If Tilak Varma comes at three, India have two left-handers together batting after the fall of the first wicket, and this will only increase their problems. Surya at three creates the left-right combination, which can trouble Zimbabwe’s bowlers. Surya is playing his fourth T20 World Cup. He is in form, needs to take charge and lead the team from the front,” he concluded.

– ANI

A file image of Zimbabwe’s Ryan Burl.
| Photo Credit: AP

India’s Sanju Samson during warm-up practice session on February 24, ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match between India vs Zimbabwe at MAC Stadium, Chepauk in Chennai on February 26, 2026.
| Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam

Abhishek Sharma during a warm-up session. (ANI Photo)

CHENNAI: There was a lot happening in the India nets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday, from Rinku Singh’s absence — he has returned home to be with his ailing father — to Suryakumar Yadav’s two-hour, range-hitting session.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!That wasn’t all, however. As Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan went in to bat at two adjacent nets, Abhishek Sharma — India’s shining light of the top-order — chose to bowl left-arm spin.Batters came and went but Abhishek stood there beside the nets, talking to the spinners, trying to understand the turn that could be on offer from the black-soil pitch that will be used for the match against Zimbabwe on Thursday.

Finally, after almost 100 minutes of practice was over, Abhishek took up the bat. He didn’t play any of the Team India spinners or pacers, it was only the practice bowlers.Abhishek has been in wretched batting form after getting three ducks to start off. In the 12-ball 15 that he scored in Ahmedabad, there were seven false shots.Given the situation the team is in at the moment, it is highly unlikely that he will be dropped. Probably what the team management was trying to do was to allow him to play some not-so-good bowling, so that Abhishek could connect his shots and get some form and confidence back. As the nets were folding up, Abhishek batted for half-an-hour and did connect, coming up with the kind of the crisp shots he is known for.A few landed in the Chepauk stands as well as he tried to work on his game against off-spin, something that has been bothering him of late.

Rinku unlikely, maybe it’s Sanju time? Sundar likely to sit outAs Rinku’s absence was noticed and news filtered in that he had headed back home to be with his father, who is battling cancer, the left-hander’s possible alternatives came into focus.Axar Patel should walk into the squad given his versatility with bat and ball. In that case, if Sanju has to play, the only player that can miss out is Washington Sundar. Washington was picked for the South Africa game but didn’t exactly shine with the ball or bat. Sanju’s inclusion could also mean that Ishan Kishan comes in at No. 3, a position which isn’t exactly unfamiliar to him. That could force the likes of Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav to come down by a slot.Surya works on his range-hittingSurya’s strike-rate hasn’t exactly been spectacular. Against South Africa he scored a 22-ball 18 that pushed India back. Tuesday’s session suggested that he was trying to get his hitting range right. He was dismissed quite a few times by India’s front-line spinners at the nets, but that was not stopping him from going for his shots. ‘SKY’, quite clearly, is trying to come out of his shell and the Zimbabwe bowling on a batting friendly pitch may provide him with the opportunity.

Sanju Samson during warm up practice session on February 24, 2026, ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup match between India vs Zimbabwe at MAC Stadium, Chepauk in Chennai.
| Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam

India’s semifinal hopes in the T20 World Cup 2026 now depend not just on winning, but on winning big. After cruising through the group stage unbeaten — including a statement victory over Pakistan — India suffered a major setback in the Super 8s. A crushing 76-run defeat to South Africa has left Suryakumar Yadav’s men under pressure in Group 1. With a net run rate of -3.800, India are well behind West Indies (+5.350) and South Africa (+3.800).For India, two wins alone may not guarantee qualification. Given their poor NRR, they need emphatic victories to stay in control of their fate.

INDIA QUALIFICATION SCENARIO

Following the heavy loss to South Africa, India face Zimbabwe in Chennai on February 26 before taking on West Indies in Kolkata on March 1.To remain in serious contention, India must first secure a commanding win over Zimbabwe. A victory by a margin of around 100 runs could play a crucial role in repairing their damaged net run rate.If India, South Africa and West Indies all finish on four points — a very realistic scenario — NRR will decide the semifinalists. With India currently lagging far behind, they must bridge the gap quickly.For instance, if India post 220 batting first, they would need to bowl Zimbabwe out for approximately 120 or less to make a significant improvement in NRR. A narrow win could leave them dependent on other results.

Scenario 1 – India win both matchesIf India beat both West Indies and Zimbabwe, they will finish on four points. And if South Africa win all their matches, both India and South Africa will qualify for the semins. If India win both matches and South Africa lose one of their games, three teams could end up tied on four points. In that case, qualification would be decided by Net Run Rate.If India win both their matches and South Africa lose both their games, then India and West Indies will qualify for the semi-final,Scenario 2 – India win one matchIf India pull off only one win, then they will be eliminated irrespective of what happens in other results of the group.Remaining Super 8 Fixtures – Group 1February 26: South Africa vs West Indies (Ahmedabad)February 26: India vs Zimbabwe (Chennai)March 1: South Africa vs Zimbabwe (Delhi)March 1: India vs West Indies (Kolkata)For the defending champions, the margin for error has vanished. The road to the semifinals now demands not just victories, but dominance.

Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma (ICC Photo)

AHMEDABAD: Coming into the T20 World Cup, much of the hype around India’s title defence revolved around a top order that worked like a killing machine against bowling attacks. However, at the halfway stage of the tournament, the team management has replaced words like “confidence” and “clarity” with “predictable” and “doubtful”. The top order which boomed ominously a month ago has come a cropper so far in this World Cup campaign.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!A loss of this magnitude can do that — India were, after all, bundled out for 111 while chasing 188, losing by 76 runs against South Africa in their first Super 8 game.Everything that the team management and selectors boasted about while shaping the combination of Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma at the top of the order hasn’t worked according to plan — opposition teams have decoded their weaknesses a bit too easily.

“We’ve watched India’s other games and it was nice to just have both left-handers (at the top). You know, you’ve got Aiden’s (Markram) ball spinning away,” David Miller said of South Africa’s decision to open the bowling with off-spinner Markram. “It gives some sort of option where if it’s not turning, it can go straight through the gates. Or if it does hold it a little bit like it did, it gives hope that we can get a wicket in the first over,” he added.The result was that Ishan Kishan got out for a duck on Sunday. In fact, Ishan and Abhishek’s partnership has struggled to last even the first over. On match eve, captain Suryakumar Yadav had mocked questions on whether change at the top was an option. It seemed he was talking about Abhishek and Tilak in the same vein as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, stalwarts who have now exited the T20I scene.

It’s now an open secret that India prefer to load their team with lefthanded batters, making it easier to plan against them. “We’ve reached a point where we need to think if we need to do something different or stick with the same combination,” India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said after India’s collapse against South Africa.“It obviously helps tactically with having a right-hander at the top of the order. I’m sure that’ll be a talking point over the next few days, going into two very important games (ahead),” India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said, while conceding that the form of Abhishek and Tilak is now a concern. It will be a bold call to bring back Sanju Samson after he was dropped from the XI following a forgettable series against New Zealand.Kotak said that the coaching staff was refraining from talking too much to Abhishek and Tilak. “There are already many things going on in their head. If we go with another 10 things, their minds will be cluttered. In the middle of a tournament, you don’t have time to work on any technical aspects of their batting,” Kotak said.The continued reference to the collapse against USA in their tournament opener, and subsequently deviating from the usual attacking batting style, suggests doubts have already crept in. It became more apparent when South Africa launched a counterattack from 20/3 while India’s batters repeatedly went into their shell after losing two early wickets.

Tilak and Surya have built small partnerships but they have scored at a strike rate barely above 100.“Tilak and Surya’s role is to link up with the guys at the back end. It hasn’t gone that way. We have been 0/1 or one down for a couple of runs in every match. Look, there’s a lot of inexperience in the team,” Doeschate said.It’s a delicate stage of the tournament. Samson has looked far from convincing even in the practice sessions. Doeschate insisted that they don’t want Abhishek to play a different game from what he has been doing over the last 18 months. Kotak claimed that going through a phase of low scores is nothing new for Abhishek.“If you look at Abhishek’s IPL career, he endures a string of low scores. He then bounces back,” Kotak said.It will be interesting to see if Abhishek and Tilak are given another shot to regain form against a relatively weaker opposition in Zimbabwe, or if the team management decides to ring in changes.