India all-rounder Hardik Pandya revealed that the Indian dressing room had been closely following the outcome of the crucial Super 8 clash between the South Africa national cricket team and the West Indies cricket team before stepping onto the field against the Zimbabwe national cricket team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. India eventually delivered a commanding performance at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, registering a convincing 72-run victory to keep their campaign alive.
Speaking after the match, Pandya admitted that the earlier contest between South Africa and West Indies had certainly caught the attention of the Indian camp. South Africa dominated that game, defeating West Indies by nine wickets and confirming their place in the semi-finals. Naturally, the result had implications for the Super 8 standings, and the Indian players were keenly monitoring how the scenario unfolded.
“Obviously, the South Africa and West Indies game was one we were all keeping an eye on,” Hardik Pandya said after India’s win.
However, the Indian vice-captain stressed that once the result of that match was known, the team quickly shifted its attention to the task at hand. According to him, the focus inside the dressing room remained firmly on executing their own plans rather than worrying too much about other results.
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“You know, now it’s all about playing good cricket, backing your skill set, you know, kind of absorbing the pressure and, making sure that you put the best foot forward. So yeah, definitely we were keeping an eye, but at the same point of time, once the game got over, we focused that this is our game. We need to focus on this,” he explained.
India backed that mindset with a sensational batting performance. The hosts piled up a tournament-best 256/4, the highest total of this edition of the T20 World Cup. Young opener Abhishek Sharma set the tone with a blazing 55 off just 30 balls, sharing a brisk 48-run opening stand with Sanju Samson, who contributed a quick 24.
The middle order ensured the momentum never dipped. Ishan Kishan chipped in with 38, while captain Suryakumar Yadav added a fluent 33. Pandya then took charge in the closing overs, smashing an unbeaten 50 from just 23 deliveries. Reflecting on his innings, Pandya admitted he had to slightly adjust his approach during the knock.
“Pretty happy. I mean, yeah, it sounds strange 23-ball 50, but I think I had to reassess in the situation as well. What I meant by that, I felt I was trying to hit too hard. And just in the game, I realised, I think I can time the ball and hit sixes as well,” Hardik Pandya said. “I think for me, it was a good game to continue the rhythm because I feel a couple of games I had which I could not do what I wanted to do. So really satisfied.”
He also shared a crucial late partnership with Tilak Varma, who blasted 44 not out off just 14 balls. The duo added an unbeaten 84 runs from only 31 deliveries to push India well beyond the 250 mark.
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Zimbabwe fought hard in reply, with Brian Bennett scoring an impressive unbeaten 97. However, the target proved too steep as they finished on 184/6. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh led India’s bowling effort with figures of 3/24. Pandya also expressed satisfaction with his own contribution with the ball despite going wicketless.
“Pretty good. I think I like bowling with a new ball. It swings. I mean, God has been kind. I have the skillset of bowling in swing, out swing both. So I really enjoy. I think it gives me the opportunity to take wickets as well. It challenges the batter as well. So yeah, pretty satisfied,” he said.
