Jasprit Bumrah Struggles; New No. 6 Fixed? Key Takeaways For India After Zimbabwe Win

Indian cricket team with Zimbabwe [Source: X]

India romped into a virtual quarterfinal knockout against West Indies after beating Zimbabwe in the Super 8 fixture on February 26. While the clash was comfortable for the Men in Blue, it also highlighted some worrying flaws and puzzles that the team still needs to solve ahead of the all-important Sunday clash.

Though a spirited Zimbabwe side put up a fight, Suryakumar Yadav & Co. were dominant from the very beginning, intent on taking control of the game early, especially after the West Indies were defeated by South Africa.

With India’s chances of reaching the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2026 now at a high, let’s take a look at the key takeaways for the team after the massive win in Chennai.

Sanju Samson’s Spot As an Opener: Curse Or a Boon?

Struggles were evident for the hosts despite the key changes they made for the Zimbabwe match. India’s Playing XI saw Sanju Samson come in and open, further unsettling the puzzle piece of the No. 1, 2 and No, 3 slot with Tilak Varma’s settled position at the feeble end of the rope.

[Sanju Samson in NZ series]

Sanju, who reeked of poor form in the New Zealand series, played a flashy but short 15-ball 24 to justify his selection, but will it be enough to cement his place alongside a fire-breathing Ishan Kishan? Only time will tell.

Tilak Varma Fit For Any Role?

Tilak Varma played at No. 3 for all of the T20 World Cup 2026 matches except for the Zimbabwe one. His batting has been consistent at 3 with consistent 25+ runs coming off the bat; however, his sudden resurgence at 6 saw him strike at 275 while scoring a 16-ball 44.

[Tilak Varma in different batting position in T20Is]

The gameplay at such an unusual position, where he earlier batted just 2 times, opened a new dimension for Gautam Gambhir & Co. to utilise. A late power hitter who can accelerate during a crisis, not only an anchor anymore.

Abhishek Sharma’s Confidence is Back After Severe Quake

Abhishek Sharma, the Golden Boy of Indian cricket, had his confidence shaken after three back-to-back ducks in the group stage fixtures. However, he found his rhythm against Zimbabwe, though not in the way he expected.

Abhishek Sharma started off slowly. A defensive approach with the bat on the very first ball was unusual for someone who had struck eight sixes off the first deliveries he faced in T20 cricket. 

He also had some lucky reprieves, as his catch was dropped and a few mistimed shots went for boundaries. Nevertheless, the 30-ball 55 will be a good boost for Sharma as he looks to regain rhythm ahead of the crucial West Indies challenge at Eden Gardens on March 1.

In another development, skipper Suryakumar Yadav has also shown consistency with the bat, already averaging 42.60 from his six appearances. It is something the Men in Blue desperately needed, an irreplaceable top-order hitter who can accelerate quickly after unexpected chaos.

Jasprit Bumrah Dependibility For India Is Over

Jasprit Bumrah hasn’t been the yardstick of excellence he usually is in this T20 World Cup so far. The ace pacer has taken seven wickets from five matches at an economy rate of 5.63 and went wicketless against Zimbabwe. Bumrah conceded 21 runs from his three overs, which also saw him attempt some desperate variations against Zimbabwe batter Brian Bennett.

[Arshdeep Singh vs Jasprit Bumrah stats in T20Is in 2026]

The world’s best should now perhaps be replaced by Arshdeep Singh, who picked up three wickets against Zimbabwe. Big-match temperament and the ability to bowl under pressure are well ingrained in Arshdeep Singh. 

However, Bumrah’s recent spells have lacked the consistent line and length in T20 cricket that once made him lethal against batters.

The Eden Pitch And Big Hitting Temperament

Shivam Dube, on whom India relies for fast-bowling all-rounder responsibilities alongside Hardik Pandya, was smashed for 46 runs in just two overs by Zimbabwe batters. It was a rare sight and a worrying one, especially since the Eden Gardens pitch is expected to be much better for batting.

[India's stats at Eden Gardens in T20Is]

As per recent reports, the Eden Gardens pitch will have even bounce with no chance of being slow. Batters will get the ball nicely onto the bat and will aim to hit it big and high, which leaves big question marks over India’s out-of-form star bowlers.

The Men in Blue’s recent batting form has eased some of the hitting responsibility but has also added to the pressure, given that the West Indies boast some power-hitters whom the hosts might struggle to tame.

Also Read: What Happens If IND Vs WI T20 World Cup Super 8 Match Gets Abandoned Due To Rain?