Former India great Sachin Tendulkar hailed Zimbabwe’s stunning victory over Australia as a “statement win” after the African side pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Zimbabwe outplayed the former champions by 23 runs at the R. Premadasa Stadium, sending shockwaves through the group stage and firmly announcing themselves as serious contenders for qualification.
The foundation of Zimbabwe’s memorable win was laid by their fast bowlers. Blessing Muzarabani produced a fiery spell up front, using bounce and late movement to dismantle Australia’s top order, while Brad Evans provided excellent support from the other end. The duo combined to pick up seven wickets, leaving Australia reeling in the powerplay.
Sachin Tendulkar took to social media to applaud Zimbabwe’s composure on the big stage, singling out Muzarabani’s four-wicket burst as a game-changing effort and praising the overall intensity of the contest. Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also weighed in on the upset, highlighting how Zimbabwe’s sharp fielding tilted the game in their favour.
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He reserved special praise for Tony Munyonga, whose athletic presence in the deep not only saved crucial runs but also produced a spectacular diving catch at deep mid-wicket to remove Ben Dwarshuis. In a tight chase, those small moments made a massive difference, underlining how modern T20 games are often decided by fielding standards as much as batting or bowling.
A statement win from Zimbabwe! 🇿🇼
Beating Australia by 23 runs takes real character. And of course, Blessing turned out to be just that, a blessing in the truest sense, with a superb 4 wicket spell.
What an exciting tournament this is shaping up to be!
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 13, 2026
This is clinical from Zim.
Batting and bowling have been great but Tony Munyonga’s fielding has piled on the pressure.
He has saved at least 12-15 runs and closes the deal with a spectacular catch at deep mid wicket.🔥🔥When the ground sizes are proper, cricketing skills truly…
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) February 13, 2026
Chasing 170, Australia were on the back foot almost immediately as Zimbabwe’s seamers exploited early swing and movement. The top order crumbled, and the pressure mounted quickly. Matt Renshaw fought a lone battle with a composed 65, while Glenn Maxwell tried to steady the innings by rotating strike before shifting gears. Their partnership offered brief hope, but the asking rate kept climbing, and regular wickets ensured Australia never truly settled into the chase. Zimbabwe’s bowlers maintained discipline at the death, closing out a famous 23-run win.
Earlier, Zimbabwe’s batters had set the tone with a confident top-order display. Brian Bennett anchored the innings with a mature unbeaten half-century, combining fluency with smart shot selection. The opening stand gave Zimbabwe early momentum, and the middle order built on that platform with sensible partnerships through the middle overs. By the time Zimbabwe posted a competitive 169/2, the belief in the camp was evident.
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This result marked Zimbabwe’s second-ever T20 World Cup win over Australia, the first coming in the inaugural 2007 edition. For a team often labelled underdogs, this victory was more than just two points—it was a statement of intent. In a tournament where fine margins separate contenders from also-rans, Zimbabwe’s blend of disciplined bowling, energetic fielding and fearless batting has suddenly made them one of the most intriguing stories of the T20 World Cup 2026.
