India’s batting unit finally rediscovered its rhythm at a crucial moment as Abhishek Sharma produced a confident half-century to power the India national cricket team to a commanding 256/4 against the Zimbabwe national cricket team in their Super 8 clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Thursday. The total turned out to be the highest score recorded in the ongoing tournament and the second-highest in T20 World Cup history.
For Abhishek Sharma, the innings carried far more significance than just the numbers. After enduring a difficult start to the tournament with three consecutive ducks, the young opener finally found his touch at the top of the order. His aggressive 55 off 30 balls provided the early momentum India desperately needed in a must-win encounter.
Opening alongside Sanju Samson, Abhishek stitched together a brisk 48-run stand that set the tone after Zimbabwe opted to bowl first. Samson contributed a quick 24 before falling to Blessing Muzarabani, but by then India had already seized the early initiative. Speaking during the mid-innings break, Abhishek admitted the knock meant a lot after a frustrating start to the competition.
WATCH – Hardik Pandya’s First-Ball Six Sparks Viral Reaction from Mahika Sharma
“It’s always great when you contribute for the team. I was waiting for this moment for quite a long time now, so finally it’s happening. I’m really happy,” he said. The left-hander also explained that his main focus was simply to spend time in the middle after barely facing deliveries in previous matches.
“I wouldn’t say it was intentional, but I just wanted to spend some time at the crease because I haven’t even played 10–12 balls in the whole tournament yet,” he added.
Doing what he does best! 🙌
Abhishek Sharma smashes his way to a 2️⃣6️⃣-ball fifty 🎇
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/p4GxtxGkBf#TeamIndia | #T20WorldCup | #MenInBlue | #INDvZIM | @OfficialAbhi04 pic.twitter.com/NGlGDxydsG
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 26, 2026
Abhishek also credited the support he received from teammates and the team environment during his lean phase. “A special mention to the team for the way they treated me. Whether it was in practice sessions or at the hotel, everyone kept reminding me that I have done this before and that my time would come.”
After the strong start, India maintained the attacking approach through the middle overs. Ishan Kishan chipped in with 38, while skipper Suryakumar Yadav added a quickfire 33 to keep the scoring rate high. The late surge came courtesy of Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma, who dismantled the Zimbabwe bowling attack in the final overs. Pandya hammered an unbeaten 50 off just 23 balls, while Tilak produced a stunning cameo of 44 from only 14 deliveries.
ALSO READ: Sanju Samson Throws Away Another Start in Crucial T20 World Cup Clash, Fans React
Their unbroken 84-run partnership off just 31 balls pushed India to a massive total and showcased the fearless batting approach the team had promised before the game. Reflecting on the explosive finish, Abhishek said it felt like the team had rediscovered its attacking intent.
“The way they finished the innings shows the intent is back. The plan was simple — once you feel set, go out and express yourself. That’s the brand of cricket we’ve played all year, and that’s what we want to continue.”
