India and Zimbabwe will take on each other in the Super 8 stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 on Thursday, February 26. The high-voltage clash will be played at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium and will begin at 7:00 PM IST.
India entered the Super 8 stage unbeaten, showcasing dominant performances in the group stage. However, a setback against South Africa on Sunday dented their semi-final hopes. Led by experience and depth, they will now look to bounce back quickly, regain momentum, and secure a vital win in IND vs ZIM to stay alive in the semi-final race.
Zimbabwe, on the other hand, stunned everyone by qualifying to the Super 8 round after an impressive group stage, toppling strong teams along the way. Yet West Indies handed them a heavy defeat in their first Super 8 outing. Led by Sikandar Raza, they will be keen to shake things up, and pull off another giant-killing act, this time against India.
IND vs ZIM Current Form (last 5 matches)
Team
Form
India
W, W, W, W, L
Zimbabwe
W, W, AB, W, L
IND vs ZIM: Key Player Battles
Ishan Kishan vs Sikandar Raza
One of the key player battle in IND vs ZIM could be between Ishan Kishan and Sikandar Raza. Kishan can turn the game in minutes, but Raza’s right-arm off-spin will be a challenge as the Indian left-hander has got out five times against right-arm off-spin inside the powerplay in his T20I career, striking at a below-par 76.9 strike-rate.
Brian Bennet vs Jasprit Bumrah
Another key player battle to watch in IND vs ZIM could be between Zimbabwe’s star with the bat in T20 World Cup 2026 Brian Bennett and India’s spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. Bennett has been Zimbabwe’s biggest match winner with the bat, and India will rely on Bumrah with the new ball to remove him early and reduce any upset chances.
Sikandar Raza vs Varun Chakravarthy
Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza versus Varun Chakravarthy is set to be a decisive face-off in IND vs ZIM. Raza’s 167.21 strike-rate in this T20 World Cup makes him a major threat in the middle-overs and for finishing, while Chakravarthy’s post-powerplay effectiveness is India’s key weapon, a failure here could mirror their struggles like in the last game.
The M. A. Chidambaram Stadium has produced some high-scoring decks in T20 World Cup 2026, favoring batters with good bounce and stroke-making opportunities. Bowlers with variations and stump-to-stump accuracy can still create chances, especially with bigger boundaries coming into play.
Freshness on the wicket may bring some early skid, but dew in the second half typically makes chasing easier. In the IND vs ZIM Super 8 clash, the captain winning the toss is likely to field first, aiming to take advantage of early conditions and set up a manageable target for the chase.
India vs Zimbabwe 1st innings score prediction
Powerplay: 62/1
Final score: 178/7
India vs Zimbabwe 2nd innings score prediction
Powerplay: 58/3
Final score: 179/6
IND vs ZIM Top Players Prediction
IND’s top players
Probable best batters
Abhishek Sharma, Shivam Dube
Probable best bowlers
Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy
ZIM’s top players
Probable best batters
Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza
Probable best bowlers
Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans
Who will hit the most sixes in the India vs Zimbabwe Super 8 match?
Shivam Dube
Who will hit the most fours in the India vs Zimbabwe Super 8 match?
Abhishek Sharma
IND vs ZIM Match Winner Prediction: Who Will Win Super 8 Match?
India head into this Super 8 clash knowing their road to the semi-finals depends a lot on this result. After a setback in their previous outing, there is little margin for error, making this a must-win encounter to stay alive in the qualification race.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will aim to punch above their weight once again, having already stunned heavyweights like Australia earlier in the tournament. Sikandar Raza's men will look to hurt India, but on paper, India appear well-equipped to seal a victory that could end Zimbabwe’s semi-final hopes.
![IND vs ZIM Prediction. [Source - @icc/x.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1772009197894_INDvsZIMMatchPredictions.jpg?type=hq)
IND vs ZIM Prediction. [Source - @icc/x.com]
