India delivered a dominant batting performance against Zimbabwe in Match 48 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium. During the high-scoring contest, an eye-catching moment involving Hardik Pandya and his girlfriend, Mahika Sharma, quickly went viral on social media, adding a touch of emotion to India’s commanding innings.
After winning the toss, Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza opted to bowl first, inviting India to set a target. The decision backfired as the Indian batters launched a relentless assault, piling up a massive 256 runs in their 20 overs — India’s highest-ever total in T20 World Cup history.
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One of the standout moments came when Hardik Pandya walked in to bat with India already in a strong position. True to his aggressive reputation, the all-rounder made an immediate impact by smashing a towering six off his very first delivery. As the ball sailed into the stands, cameras quickly panned to Mahika Sharma in the crowd. Her joyful reaction — standing up and applauding enthusiastically — instantly caught fans’ attention and soon began trending on social media.
She would give the same reaction even if he got out 😭💀pic.twitter.com/veMeAnKJS2
— OldMonkOfCricket (@BhushanManmath) February 26, 2026
CLUTCH HARDIK PANDYA 😍🔥 pic.twitter.com/r3qU8ta7jg
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 26, 2026
Pandya continued the fireworks, producing a blistering innings that energized the Chepauk crowd. The Indian star raced to a half-century off just 23 balls, showcasing his trademark power-hitting. Each boundary and six drew loud cheers from the spectators, with Mahika once again seen celebrating his milestone from the stands.
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India’s batting dominance was not limited to Pandya alone. Young opener Abhishek Sharma provided a strong platform at the top with a fluent 55 off 30 balls, setting the tone for the innings. Later, Tilak Varma added the finishing touches with a stunning cameo. Batting at number seven, he smashed 44 runs off just 16 deliveries at a remarkable strike rate of 275, including three fours and four towering sixes.
India’s 256-run total also ranks as the second-highest score in the history of the T20 World Cup, behind Sri Lanka national cricket team’s 260 against Kenya in 2007.
