Ricky Ponting speaks about Team India’s T20 World Cup-winning campaign

NEW DELHI: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has praised India’s decision to back Sanju Samson as an opener during their victorious campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. According to Ponting, the trust shown in Samson by captain Suryakumar Yadav and the coaching staff played a major role in India’s success.Samson’s tournament did not start smoothly. Before the World Cup, he had scored only 46 runs in five T20Is against New Zealand national cricket team. He initially got a chance in the league match against Namibia national cricket team in New Delhi after Abhishek Sharma fell ill. Later, he was brought back for a key Super Eight game against Zimbabwe national cricket team and turned his tournament around with a series of brilliant performances.

Samson played some crucial knocks as India advanced in the competition. He scored an unbeaten 97 against West Indies national cricket team in Kolkata, followed by 89 in the semifinal against England national cricket team in Mumbai and another 89 in the final against New Zealand national cricket team in Ahmedabad. His total of 321 runs in five innings became the most by an Indian batter in a single T20 World Cup edition and earned him the Player of the Tournament award.“For India to stick with him at the top there, that was a big call to make. A big decision, but one that worked out really well in the end. If you get the backing of the coaching staff and the captain, then that’s all you need,” Ponting said on The ICC Review show.“Just a pat on the back or an arm around the shoulder to say, ‘we’re sticking with you, we believe in you.’ When you’ve got the quality that Sanju’s got, and the confidence of the captain and coach behind you, that’s when great things can happen.”Ponting also praised Suryakumar’s leadership and how he managed his players during the tournament. “It would have been really interesting to see how Surya has interacted with Abhishek (Sharam) and Sanju (Samson) over the last few weeks. That’s where the real stories will come out on true leadership.”Despite not scoring heavily himself apart from an unbeaten 84 against the United States national cricket team, Suryakumar guided India to the title. Ponting concluded, “It’s about a lot more than what they do off the field, the things that people don’t see and how they interact with their players. He didn’t have a great time himself as a player, but still, he’s standing at the end holding up a World Cup trophy.”

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.

Zimbabwe’s Ryan Burl celebrates the wicket of Australia’s Glenn Maxwell in Colombo. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Who will make it to the Super 8s of the 2026 T20 World Cup? Most expected names — India, Australia, England, Pakistan, West Indies, South Africa, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka — dominated the predictions. Even the USA was mentioned. Other teams, including Zimbabwe, were largely tagged as “underdogs.”Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!But Zimbabwe have shattered that perception. With majestic performances, they earned their place in the Super 8s, defeating Oman, Australia, and Sri Lanka along the way and sending a clear message: they are not underdogs.After the 2024 T20 World Cup, while the world speculated about the 2026 edition, Zimbabwe quietly went back to basics. They focused on learning, practicing, planning, and grinding hard without making noise. The results speak for themselves — Zimbabwe have emerged as the ‘Cinderella’ team of the tournament.

Now, Zimbabwe face another big test. They are placed in a tough Super 8 group with defending champions India, 2024 runners-up South Africa, and two-time champions West Indies. To reach the semifinals, they must finish in the top two of the points table.For Zimbabwe batter Ryan Burl, this success is not just a dream or a statement against their underdog tag. “This is the result of a 24-month plan we made and are now executing well,” he disclosed. Their journey reflects strategy, hard work, and belief, and now the team is ready to take on the giants.“You’re always going to be the underdog when you’re ranked lower,” Burl told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.

“Beating a team ranked above you is always special. As underdogs, it motivates us even more because people don’t really expect us to win. So when we do, it means a lot — to us as players and to our nation.”Zimbabwe dominated the sub-regional qualifiers, facing teams like Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania with authority. They went on to win Qualifiers B, the Regional Sub-Regional B, and finally the main qualifiers, securing their spot in the 2026 T20 World Cup — a dream this squad was determined not to let go to waste.Even after their impressive group-stage performances, Burl and the rest of the Zimbabwe team are not celebrating. Their focus has already shifted to the next challenge: executing a fresh, well-laid plan for the Super 8s.“Our success has been the result of a carefully crafted plan executed over time. Every player has put in immense hard work. About 18 to 24 months ago, we set ourselves the dream and goal of reaching the Super 8s,” he said.“We’ve had highs and lows, but throughout, we’ve followed clear game plans and blueprints. Combining that planning with hard work has brought us to where we are today.”Zimbabwe last played in India during the first round of the T20 World Cup in 2016.In the 2026 edition, they will kick off their Super 8 campaign against West Indies on Monday in Mumbai, followed by a clash against India in Chennai, and then face South Africa in Delhi.“We have to face India, West Indies, and South Africa in the Super 8s — three teams currently playing outstanding cricket. India are defending champions, so it’s a challenge in itself, but one we’re excited for. We can’t look too far ahead,” Burl said.“We have to take one game at a time. There’s jubilation in what we’ve achieved so far, but we need to stay grounded, stay calm, and focus on the next hurdle.”

Zimbabwe’s captain Sikandar Raza, right, and Brian Bennett run between the wickets. (AP Photo)

‘SIKANDAR RAZA IS A SUPERSTAR’After Zimbabwe secured their place in the Super 8s, captain Sikandar Raza made a low-key entrance to address the media. He greeted everyone with a simple “Hello, everyone,” followed by a warm smile.“The fact that we’ve qualified for the Super 8s hasn’t changed the ultimate goal that we set out for. Like I said, it’s just a tick in the box, but we have a lot of other goals to achieve and everybody loves an underdog story, don’t they?” Raza had said, reflecting on the achievement.Burl gave credit to Sikandar Raza for instilling fire and belief in every player, motivating the squad, and pushing them toward their big dream.“To be honest, he’s a legend in his own right and has deserved all the plaudits. He is a superstar. He’s worked extremely hard throughout his career,” Burl said.“As a teammate and brother on the field, it’s been very special to play alongside him. The team really buys into what he says. Combined with the guidance and leadership of coach Justin Simmons, it’s been an essential part of our success.”Zimbabwe entered the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup after their crucial Group B clash against Ireland was washed out due to rain. The result saw former champions Australia and Ireland eliminated from the tournament.

Zimbabwe’s captain Sikandar Raza, center, with teammates leaves the ground after Sri Lanka’s inning during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo)

Captain Sikandar Raza said the strong group-stage run by the Zimbabwe at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has earned them respect, and he hopes the team can continue its run in the Super Eights against stronger opponents.Zimbabwe signalled their ability to challenge top teams by defeating Australia and Sri Lanka in Group B matches.“We keep our sights forward. If I keep our eyes on the present…I don’t think anyone gave us a chance. To win everyone’s hearts and respect, it is a good position to be in,” Raza said in the post-match presentation after his team’s win over SL.Zimbabwe now move into the Super Eights, where they will face reigning champions India, two-time champions West Indies cricket team, and 2024 finalists South Africa.But Raza said his side is not intimidated.Also read: Sikandar roars in Colombo: Zimbabwe stun Sri Lanka, fire warning shot at India
“We take one game at a time. We arrive on the 21st, and then train on the 22nd, and then it is show-time. Whatever happens, happens. If we can win two out of three games, who knows what can happen. Everyone loves an underdog story,” Raza added.Reflecting on the win over Sri Lanka, Raza said the hosts fell short of a defendable total.“When we lost the toss, all I said to the boys was if we are truly playing good cricket, why does the toss matter? I bowled, and said finger-spinners are not finding a lot of turn, so we can put them under pressure.“I came into the changing room and said they were 10 runs short (at the break). We have trained for every situation. We have the right personnel to send in at the right time. We have got all those roles clear and that is why you see the confidence in the changing room,” he said.For now, Raza said he wants to enjoy the team’s progress into the Super Eights.“We are unbeaten so far, but it is only the next game that comes into my head. Nice position to be in as a captain but I will try and enjoy at least tonight,” he said.

Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe (Agency Image)

Although qualification permutations are no longer in play with the Super Eights line-up already confirmed, there is still plenty at stake when Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe face off in Colombo. Both sides remain unbeaten in the group stage, and this fixture offers a timely dress rehearsal before the next phase of the tournament.For context, one of these teams failed to progress to the Super Eights in the 2024 edition, while the other did not even make it to that tournament. By that measure alone, this campaign marks clear progress for both outfits. However, Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza made it clear after the washed-out clash against Ireland that merely reaching the Super Eights will not satisfy his team.Zimbabwe have already made headlines by knocking Australia out early and will aim to carry that momentum forward when they travel to India for the next round. With two strong victories built on collective performances across batting, bowling and fielding, another win — especially against the co-hosts — would significantly boost their confidence and potentially secure a top finish in Group B.Standing in their way is a Sri Lankan side brimming with form. They are coming off one of their most dominant T20 World Cup victories in recent memory. Pathum Nissanka delivered what many consider the innings of the tournament so far, Kusal Mendis has been in outstanding touch, and Pavan Rathnayake has emerged as an unexpected but effective presence at No. 4.Injuries, however, have tested Sri Lanka’s depth. Matheesha Pathirana has been ruled out of the competition, adding to the earlier loss of Wanindu Hasaranga. As co-hosts, they will be eager to avoid further setbacks while maintaining their rhythm heading into the Super Eights.

Today T20 World Cup matches – Thursday, 19 February

Image credit: Zimbabwe Cricket

Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza stressed that reaching the Super 8s was only one milestone in a much bigger journey after his side progressed to the next stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 following a rain-hit fixture against Ireland at the Pallekele International Stadium on Tuesday.The abandoned match earned both teams a point each, taking Zimbabwe to five points in Group B and ending Australia’s hopes of advancing.

“The fact that we’ve qualified for the Super 8s hasn’t changed the ultimate goal that we set out for. Like I said, it’s just a tick in the box, but we have a lot of other goals to achieve and everybody loves an underdog story, don’t they?” Raza said.He reflected on Zimbabwe’s long qualification route, including the sub-regional stage featuring Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.“I’ll take you back when we played the sub-regional qualifiers B, and we played the Kenya, the Rwanda, Tanzania, and all those teams. And I remember I stood up to my troops and I said, we are in this position or in this mess, as you want to call it, because of us. There’s no one else to blame. And only us that would get this mess clear and only us can get it out of it. So what are we gonna do about it? And we won the qualifiers B, regional sub-regional B, then the main qualifiers happened. We won that as well,” he said.Zimbabwe now enter a challenging Super 8 group alongside defending champions India, 2024 runners-up South Africa and two-time winners West Indies, needing a top-two finish to make the semi-finals.“Yeah, certainly so. Myself and the coach will sit down. We watched Sri Lanka in the last three games as well. We’re going to have the data on them and we try and put our best foot forward and try and win that game. That is the whole point of us being here,” Raza said of their preparation.“I think every condition we find ourselves in, if we can find a day or two to train, I think we’ll sum up the conditions really well and hopefully make those plans. One thing you can’t fight is the weather and conditions. So we try and learn those conditions if we can have two, three training days in a particular city, wherever we’re going to.”Before the Super 8s begin, Zimbabwe will take on co-hosts Sri Lanka in their final group-stage match at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Thursday.