South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada, second right, celebrates with teammate Marco Jansen (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

TimesofIndia.com in New Delhi: South Africa are the team to beat in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Except a nervous and edge-of-the-seat double Super Over against Afghanistan, they have highlighted their credentials with win versus title favourites and defending champions India. As a result, they’re on a six match winning run and the only undefeated team in the competition. Up next for them are the already-eliminated Zimbabwe in an all-Africa contest at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.With a semi-final against New Zealand in the offing, this would be the worst time to take the foot off the pedal. What is most impressive for the Proteas is the fact that there’s no single individual at the wheel to keep this juggernaut going all guns blazing. Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs have fired with the bat and Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch have done the job with the ball.

“From our point of view, we’ve been really sharp and what we want to ensure is that we maintain that discipline and intensity and that we don’t drop off as far as those are concerned,” said South Africa batting coach Ashwell Prince on the eve of the dead rubber.Six wins in a row and two recent ones coming in convincing fashion, against India and West Indies by 76 runs and 9 wickets, respectively, South Africa have form and momentum on their side as they enter the knockouts. Their semi-final opponents, New Zealand, in comparison, scraped through as Pakistan failed to restrict Sri Lanka in their Super Eight clash. So, is there anything as “ideal lead-up”?“Obviously winning creates good momentum. However you win, sometimes you can have convincing wins. Other times you can have tight matches that really brings the group together, so however you’re able to get over the line I don’t think there’s an ideal way. If you look at England’s last game (vs New Zealand), you win the way that England did (by 4 wickets with 3 balls to spare) and their guys down at number seven and eight making telling contributions, that lifts them as well, gives their batting lineup a lot of confidence knowing that those guys can come to the party and take the team over the line,” explained Prince.“I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way of doing it or an ideal way – I think it’s nice not to have a lot of close games, but I think close games definitely helps in terms of team morale,” he continued.

Zimbabwe will be playing for pride on Sunday (AP Photo/Wonder Mashura)

If Zimbabwe’s last two games are an indication, the odds of it being a close encounter look slim. After becoming the darlings of the tournament with wins over Australia and Sri Lanka, the journey across the Palk Strait has brought with a rude awakening. The Sikandar Raza-led unit were walloped for 254 runs by West Indies (in Mumbai) and 256 runs by India (in Chennai) – both featuring in the top-3 highest totals in T20 World Cup history.“The conditions over here in India is different from what we had in Sri Lanka, different pitches, and all that. So it took a while for us to adapt. We didn’t adapt as quickly or as quickly as we wanted to. And it’s a different surface. So obviously, we didn’t go to plan in terms of our execution but I still think the guys put their hands up they did the best they could,” said Zimbabwe’s bowling consultant Courtney Walsh.“Hopefully we’ll have taken away a lot from these conditions here for future references And I think one of the things, the biggest takeaway is that how quickly you have to adapt in different conditions is one of the things that we will take away from this group,” he continued.In the group stage, Zimbabwe and Raza stressed on being taken seriously and being respected. After the two recent hammerings, the brutality of the sport means they’d have to go about chasing that all over again.

India’s Sanju Samson (ANI Photo)

India produced a commanding display to brush aside Zimbabwe in Match 48 of the ongoing T20 World Cup at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on February 26. Asked to bat first, the Men in Blue piled up a formidable 256 in the opening innings, a total that left Zimbabwe with an uphill task from the outset.The batting unit drew widespread applause, particularly for the way the openers set the tone. Sanju Samson, drafted into the XI in place of Rinku Singh, had plenty of attention on him ahead of the clash. Partnering Abhishek Sharma at the top, Samson struck 24 off just 15 balls, ensuring India made full use of the powerplay and seized early momentum.

Following the emphatic win, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin offered a balanced assessment of Samson’s knock on his YouTube channel.“I will see this from two sides. One, Sanju Samson the boy I know and what he is capable of. Second is Samson for the Indian team. This team, in this World Cup, addressed the opening partnership in this game. We got a better start. If Sanju can give me 15-ball 28, 16-ball 30, from here till the final, he would have done a job for the team. Maybe he can score big also, but he has done the job,” Ashwin said.Ashwin also expressed a more personal wish for the Kerala batter, hoping he converts his starts into something substantial as the tournament progresses.“For Samson the person, that I like, I really do want him to stick in and make a huge score. There will not be a better opportunity than this. I want him to start well and capitalize as well. If you come here after years after hardwork, in this platform, catch the flight. Even if you fall, you can say you tried at least. I would want him to finish the World Cup with a hundred, or that match-winning performance, for his confidence. He deserves it,” he added.

R Ashwin shushes Pakistan’s Mohammad Amir

NEW DELHI: Ravichandran Ashwin has defended young India batter Abhishek Sharma after former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir labelled him “just a slogger” during the T20 World Cup. Amir’s remark came after Abhishek was dismissed for three consecutive ducks in the group stage, questioning his technique and suggesting he lacked a defensive game.

However, Abhishek answered critics in style during India’s Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, smashing 55 runs off just 30 balls as India piled up 256/4. His aggressive knock helped shift the narrative around his tournament.Responding to Amir’s comments on his YouTube channel, Ashwin strongly disagreed. “There is a video of Mohammad Amir doing the rounds, where he called Abhishek Sharma a slogger. I just want to make one thing clear: you can say anything about his game, but he is not a slogger. He has one of the most enviable bat swings in the game today. We all know Yuvraj Singh is his mentor,” said Ashwin on his YouTube channel.“He has probably got a better bat swing than him as well. You cannot get a better bat swing than that. Whenever Abhishek strikes the ball, it goes very far. So people can mistake him for being a slogger. The one thing Abhishek has been guilty of is showing intent on every ball.”After the knock on Thursday, Abhishek also admitted he had been waiting for such a performance. “It’s always great when you contribute to the team, and I was waiting for this moment for quite a long time now, so finally it’s happening. I’m really happy… I just wanted to spend some time at the pitch,” he said.He also praised the team’s support. “You have done this before as well, and your time is not so far. You just keep believing,” he revealed teammates had told him.

CHENNAI, INDIA – FEBRUARY 26: Arshdeep Singh of India celebrates the wicket of Ryan Burl of Zimbabwe during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 Super 8 match between India and Zimbabwe at MA Chidambaram Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Chennai, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

TimesofIndia.com in Chennai: Moments before entering the stadium, India head coach Gautam Gambhir was following the live stream of West Indies vs South Africa on his phone. The fixture carried a lot of weight, and a West Indies win could have ended India’s campaign before they took the field against Zimbabwe in Chennai on Thursday. The stakes were high and not only the coach, sitting in his usual front seat on the team bus, but the entire group was tracking the developments in Ahmedabad. The Aulakhs were no different and remained an animated bunch in the team hotel as Darshan Singh Aulakh, Arshdeep’s father, didn’t mince his words every time a West Indies batter went big.“My family was in the room and when the West Indies batters were hitting, papa gaali dete the ki kya kar raha hai (father was abusing what are they doing). So I was like, it’s okay, don’t be angry and just enjoy the match and hope South Africa win and we also win our remaining matches. If we play good cricket, the result will take care of itself. Well played to them and thank you to them as well for giving us the chance to decide our result. They played well and now we will try to beat them in the finals,” said Arshdeep Singh in the mixed-zone media interaction.

The West Indies had a terrible start with the bat but bounced back, raising some tension in the Indian camp too. Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd’s late onslaught pushed the total from 83/7 to 176/8, and the late fireworks were enough to keep the Men in Blue glued to the action nearly 2,000 kilometres away. India were in a must-win situation in the Super Eight but they surrendered complete control after an ordinary outing against South Africa, which severely damaged their net run-rate. A West Indies win would have kept them mathematically alive but the required outcome would have been far from reachable. Hardik Pandya also revealed that they were “keeping an eye,” but focus quickly shifted to their own game once the result came in their favour.

CHENNAI, INDIA – FEBRUARY 26: Hardik Pandya of India plays a shot during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 Super 8 match between India and Zimbabwe at MA Chidambaram Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Chennai, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

“We all were keeping an eye. You know, now it’s all about playing good cricket, backing your skill set, you know, kind of absorbing the pressure and making sure that you put the best foot forward. We were keeping the eye, but at the same point of time, once the game got over, we focused on the fact that this is our game. We need to focus on this,” said Hardik after winning the man of the match for his all-round performance vs Zimbabwe.South Africa’s clinical run-chase returned control to their zone, and the focus shifted back to playing good cricket as they walked out in front of a noisy crowd at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Whistles weren’t allowed but the regular chants and self-instructed Mexican waves kept the atmosphere lively while the two teams battled it out in the middle. The chants of “Abhishek ko bowling do,” “Tilak ko bowling do” got noisier when mere formalities were left and even the players engaged with the crowd to keep the spirits high in the stands. Tilak played along and instructed the crowd to ask Surya for bowling, rolling his arm over as a signal too. The mood in the camp seemed good and the confidence from a strong batting performance was reflected in their movements on the field during the defence. The entire group chose to keep things simple and focussed on returning to the brand of cricket they have played in the bilaterals preceding the multi-nation tournament.

CHENNAI, INDIA – FEBRUARY 26: Tilak Varma of India plays a shot during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 Super 8 match between India and Zimbabwe at MA Chidambaram Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Chennai, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

“After the last game, we just as a team and Gautam sir also said the same thing that whatever the situation, just remind what brand of cricket we played since last year and also the New Zealand series and South Africa series the way we played. So whatever the situation, as individuals, just go out there and smile and enjoy the game. At the same point, just look at the team, what the team needs. “Whenever you just see what the team needs, then you won’t be under pressure. You always look at the situation, how the wicket is going, all these things come into the mind. You won’t see as an individual like I should score runs, all this just goes off from the mind. So that’s what we discussed and as an individual we are just focusing on what the team needs and at the end of the day we have done well,” said Tilak at the post-match presser.Tilak has had starts in the tournament but has lacked fluency, especially intent, in the middle-overs. Because Sanju Samson moved to the top of the order, Ishan Kishan dropped to No. 3, forcing the left-hander to change batting positions and face the challenge of batting at a different number in a completely different situation. From anchoring the previous fixtures, his role shifted to that of the bludgeoner in the death overs, and he played his part perfectly. Coming into bat at 172/4 in the 15th over, Tilak combined with his Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya to accumulate 84 runs off just 31 deliveries, ultimately scoring 44 off only 16 deliveries. It wasn’t a role he had played before and his happy to bat wherever the situation and team demands.

“I always say that whatever team needs, I’m up for it. So I’ve done the same role since the last four years in IPL for the Mumbai Indians, and also I’ve done a few games for the Indian team. So I’m up for it. Whatever the team needs, I’m up. And according to the situation, I can adjust. But as I said before I was just waiting for one innings. So I am really grateful to God for that. The right time it has been given, but I am up for it. I am pretty confident now that going forward I can win the games for the team,” Tilak explained.India’s next fixture against the West Indies at the Eden Gardens is a virtual quarter-final but the mood in the dressing room and hotel rooms, is expected to be relaxed leading up to the must-win clash. Thanks to South Africa and then later to a clinical performance with both bat and ball against Zimbabwe.

Sikandar Raza of Zimbabwe (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Veteran Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza stands on the brink of history as he closes in on a major personal milestone in T20I cricket. The Zimbabwe captain needs just 15 more runs to become the first player from his country to reach 3000 runs in the shortest international format.Raza is expected to target the landmark in Zimbabwe’s must-win Super Eight clash against defending champions India national cricket team at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

So far, Raza has accumulated 2985 runs in 131 matches and 126 innings, averaging 26.18. His record in T20Is includes 16 half-centuries and one century.If he achieves the feat, Raza will become the 14th batter overall to cross the 3000-run mark in T20Is, joining an elite list featuring Babar Azam, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jos Buttler, Paul Stirling, Martin Guptill, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Waseem, David Warner, Suryakumar Yadav, Virandeep Singh, Aaron Finch and Quinton de Kock.Meanwhile, Zimbabwe all-rounder Ryan Burl underlined the importance of the upcoming fixture. Zimbabwe were heavily beaten by the West Indies cricket team in their first Super Eight match at the Wankhede Stadium, losing by 107 runs while chasing a daunting 255.With both Zimbabwe and India desperate to keep their semi-final hopes alive, Burl acknowledged the magnitude of the contest.“It is a must-win match for us; it’s also a must-win game for India. There’s obviously a lot at stake here, being a World Cup game, and if we are to progress to the semi-finals, we both want to look at winning tomorrow’s game. So I think we are both excited. Obviously, we don’t get to play India a lot, so it’s something that we really have been looking forward to, and we will grab the opportunity with both hands,” Burl said during the pre-match press conference.

West Indies’ players after their win against Zimbabwe. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Former India captain Anil Kumble believes West Indies have shown they possess the qualities needed to win the T20 World Cup at the business end, while warning that India now face a difficult road to the semi-finals after their heavy defeat to South Africa.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!West Indies sent a strong message to the rest of the field with a dominant 107-run demolition of Zimbabwe, piling up a staggering 254/6 before bowling their opponents out for 147. The performance impressed Kumble, who said the Caribbean side demonstrated a clear understanding of how to succeed in knockout-style situations.

“The West Indies understand what it takes to win at this stage of the tournament. The left-arm spinners were outstanding. Gudakesh Motie bowled brilliantly. In this format, finger spinners often try to stay away from the batter’s hitting arc, but Motie and Hosein were different,” Kumble said on JioHotstar.He also singled out Shimron Hetmyer’s explosive 34-ball 85 as the turning point. “Shimron Hetmyer has long been a finisher and knows how to clear the boundaries. He has the power and the temperament. What stands out is that he doesn’t settle for quick cameos of 20 or 30. He converts them into substantial scores. Had he fallen for 30, perhaps the West Indies wouldn’t have reached 254,” Kumble explained.

Kumble added that Rovman Powell’s calculated assault made the total even more formidable. “Powell is again a proven power-hitter. He took his time initially, but once he settled, he was unstoppable.”Turning to India’s situation, Kumble admitted the margin and manner of their loss to South Africa had made things complicated. “Every game counts at this stage. India suffered a significant loss… The key question now is whether they can bounce back strongly.”He stressed that India must now win big. “India needs to win convincingly, much like the West Indies did… The primary focus should be on winning both matches.”

Steve Smith of Australia shakes hands with Pavan Rathnayake of Sri Lanka after the match. (Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: A shattered Mitchell Marsh did not hide his emotions after Australia crashed to a crushing eight-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka in a must-win clash at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Monday, conceding his side’s fate in the tournament is now out of their hands.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Australia posted 181 after a blazing start but were blown away by a sensational chase led by Pathum Nissanka, whose unbeaten century sealed Sri Lanka’s place in the Super 8s and left the former champions staring at an early exit.“It is a devastated group. We’re in the lap of the gods now, I think, with the way it’s shaped up,” Marsh said in a brutally honest assessment. “There’s a lot of emotion in the rooms right now. We haven’t been at our best… we’re a disappointed bunch at the moment.”

Blazing start, bitter finishAt the halfway stage of their innings, Australia looked firmly in control. Marsh (54) and Travis Head (56) powered their side to a commanding 110/2, setting the platform for a massive total. But what followed was a dramatic collapse in momentum, as Sri Lanka’s bowlers tightened the screws.“Well, I thought it was a competitive total at the halfway mark. There’s no doubt we probably left ourselves a few short after the start that we had. So that’s disappointing,” Marsh admitted. “We know that at our best we can make big scores. And we just lost our way a little bit there towards the back-end. Couldn’t get a partnership going and Sri Lanka bowled really well.”He added with resignation: “Coming off, we knew we were a few short… not much else to say other than Sri Lanka outplayed us tonight.”Sri Lanka made Australia pay dearly. Nissanka’s breathtaking 100 not out off just 52 balls turned the chase into a statement, as Australia’s bowlers had no answers on a night when everything seemed to slip away.Qualification hopes hang by a threadThe defeat marked Australia’s second consecutive loss and left them in a precarious position in Group B. With just one win from three matches, their Super 8 hopes now hinge on other results — particularly the crucial clash between Zimbabwe and Ireland.Marsh admitted the team could only watch and hope.“We watch the Zimbabwe-Ireland game and we hope… but yeah, we’re a disappointed bunch at the moment,” he said.

Australia’s captain Mitchell Marsh, right, with Nathan Ellis. (AP Photo)

T20 World Cup: How Australia can still qualify for Super 8s

The qualification equation is tense and unforgiving.If Zimbabwe beat Ireland on Tuesday, Australia will be eliminated from the tournament. However, an Ireland victory will keep Australia’s hopes alive and open up a three-way fight for the remaining Super 8 spot.In that scenario, Zimbabwe’s final group match against Sri Lanka on February 19 will become decisive. A Zimbabwe win over the co-hosts will take them through to the Super 8s alongside Sri Lanka, ending Australia’s chances regardless of other results.But if Zimbabwe lose to Sri Lanka — and Ireland have already beaten Zimbabwe — then Zimbabwe and Ireland will both finish on four points, bringing net run rate into play to determine the second qualifier from the group.Australia, who face Oman on February 20 in their final match, will then enter the contest with a clear net run rate equation. They will need a convincing win and a favourable swing in numbers to stay alive and secure a dramatic late qualification.