Kolkata: India have vowed to continue their fearless and attacking style of cricket after a commanding victory over Zimbabwe kept their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign alive.
The defending champions defeated Zimbabwe by 72 runs in a high scoring Super Eight match, posting the tournament’s highest total before restricting their opponents in reply. India piled up 256 for four in 20 overs and then limited Zimbabwe to 184 for six.
Young batter Tilak Varma said the team wants to maintain the same positive intent in the matches ahead as they chase a place in the semi finals.
He said the players are focused on playing freely and adapting to match situations, adding that flexibility in batting positions has helped the team maintain momentum.
India’s innings was powered by aggressive batting throughout. Abhishek Sharma scored 55, Hardik Pandya remained unbeaten on 50, and Varma smashed an unbeaten 44 from just 16 balls to accelerate the scoring at the end.
Zimbabwe fought back through Brian Bennett, who struck an unbeaten 97, but the steep target and rising run rate proved too much.
The big win was crucial for India after a heavy defeat to South Africa had hurt their net run rate and put their title defence under pressure. The margin of victory has significantly improved their chances of reaching the knockout stage.
Team management’s tactical changes paid off, including promoting Hardik Pandya up the order and using Varma as a finisher to maximize late runs.
India now face West Indies in Kolkata in what is expected to be a decisive clash. A victory could secure a semi final place, making the contest effectively a knockout encounter.
The emphatic performance has boosted confidence among supporters and experts alike, with many praising India’s composure in a must win situation.
With momentum restored and belief renewed, India head into their next match determined to keep playing bold cricket as they continue their pursuit of another world title.