Hardik Pandya and Tilak Verma (Source: AFP Photos)
Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma showed no mercy to Zimbabwean bowlers on Thursday (February 26) in a must-win T20 World Cup Super 8 tie in Chennai. Coupled with brisk cameos from Abhishek Sharma, a returning Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav, all batters from the Men in Blue came with all guns blazing to take India to a total they had never achieved in the history of the tournament.
Riding on Hardik Pandya’s explosive unbeaten 23-ball 50 and Tilak Varma’s 16-ball 44 not out, India piled up 256/4 after Sikandar Raza had won the toss and asked India to bat first. Their previous highest in the tournament was 218/4, which came way back in 2007 against England – the match where Yuvraj Singh smashed six sixes against Stuart Broad.
Notably, the highest-ever total in the history of the T20 World Cup was 260/6, made by Sri Lanka. The ongoing edition’s co-hosts reached there back in 2007, against Kenya in Johannesburg.
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India Break Multiple T20 World Cup Records
In the process, India broke multiple records in T20 World Cups, reaching new heights one after another while making sure they were down for a bit, but not out.
Highest total in T20 World Cups
- 260/6 Sri Lanka vs Kenya Joburg 2007
- 256/4 India vs Zimbabwe Chennai 2026 *
- 254/6 West Indies vs Zimbabwe Wankhede 2026
- 235/5 Ireland vs Oman Colombo SSC 2026
- 230/8 England vs South Africa Wankhede 2016
- 229/4 South Africa vs England Wankhede 2016
Highest Innings Total for India in T20 World Cups
- 256/4 vs Zimbabwe, Chennai, 2026, Tonight*
- 218/4 vs England, Durban, 2007
- 210/2 vs Afghanistan, Abu Dhabi, 2021
- 209/9 vs Namibia, Delhi, 2026
- 205/5 vs Australia, Gros Islet, 2024
Most sixes by a team in an innings in T20 World Cups
- 19 – Netherlands vs Ireland, Sylhet, 2014
- 19 – West Indies vs Zimbabwe, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2026
- 17 – India vs Zimbabwe, Chennai, 2026, Tonight*
- 16 – Australia vs India, Bridgetown, 2010
- 15 – India vs Australia, Gros Islet, 2024
Highest 5th Wicket Partnership for India in T20 World Cups
- 113 – Virat Kohli & Hardik Pandya vs Pakistan, Melbourne, 2022
- 85 – MS Dhoni & Rohit Sharma vs South Africa, Durban, 2007
- 84* – Hardik Pandya & Tilak Varma vs Zimbabwe, Chennai, 2026, Tonight*
- 84 – MS Dhoni & Yuvraj Singh vs Australia, Mirpur, 2014
- 81 – Shivam Dube & Hardik Pandya vs Namibia, Delhi, 2026
India Aiming To Secure Big-Margin Victory Vs Zimbabwe
Meanwhile, India would like to register a big-margin victory over Zimbabwe, given the fact that they had suffered a 76-run defeat to South Africa. Even though NRR is not a big thing to worry about at this moment, after the West Indies’ thumping loss to the Proteas earlier in the day, the SKY-led side would aim to get a positive momentum before heading to the West Indies fixture, set to take place at Eden Gardens on Sunday.
At the time of writing this, Zimbabwe are 10/0 after 1.1 overs, with Brian Bennett and T Marumani in the middle.
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