ICC Men’s T20 WC 2026 | Match 48: India vs Zimbabwe | Preview and Predictions

India will take on Zimbabwe in match 48 at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on 26th February 2026. 

Here, we present our preview and predictions for Match no. 48 between India and Zimbabwe 

ICC Men’s T20 WC 2026 Super8 Group 1 | Match 48: India vs Zimbabwe | 19:00 IST, February 26, 2026

Following a dominant showing in the build-up to the tournament as well as an undefeated group stage campaign, defending champions India came undone against a professional South African outfit who were simply better than their hosts across all three departments in Ahmedabad. 

The bowlers started the contest well for the hosts and had SA on the ropes at one point with Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh decimating their top-order, reducing them to 20-3 at the end of four overs. However, some exceptional rearguard action from the likes of David Miller – who ended up getting awarded the Man of the Match award – with Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs in company as well as some average bowling from the Indian bowlers during the middle overs allowed the Africans to post a challenging 187 on a dry wicket. 

Much like South Africa in the first innings, the Indian top order batters found it difficult to negate the new ball threat and found themselves under the cosh. Only Shivam Dube showed some grit and fight as the rest of batters failed to get stuck in and build any sort of momentum. Thus, with only two games left, they’re in a do or die situation with one more defeat confirming their elimination in the Super8 stages. 

As for their opponents, the Chevrons were the team to beat in Group B – registering monumental victories over both Australia and Sri Lanka to top the group. Although expecting progression from a group comprising India, South Africa and the West Indies always looked challenging, a heavy defeat to West Indies in their first Super8 fixture means they, too, are coming into this contest in a do or die situation. 

Despite a positive start to the game, dropping the in-form Shimron Hetmyer twice – first on 9 and then on 70 – proved to be the difference as the Guyanese batter went on to decimate the Zimbabwean bowling attack with a thunderous 85 off 34 balls. Further assistance from the likes of Rovman Powell and Sherfane Rutherford powered WI to 254 for 6. A target that was always going to be too much for Zimbabwe. In the end, Zimbabwe registered a heavy 107-run defeat at the end. 

In terms of weather forecast and pitch report, conditions are expected to be clear and ideal for a complete game of cricket. As evident from the five games played here at this venue so far, the surface here at Chepauk offers a balanced wicket with teams consistently posting scores between 175-200. 

Looking ahead to this fixture, both teams are coming into this game having suffered heavy defeats in their respective Super8 openers, leaving no room for further slip ups. While Zimbabwe will consider themselves as underdogs, the Indians know that they can still turn things around with two solid performances, although they’d like South Africa to lend a helping hand by beating the West Indies in Match 47. All this considered, we are backing team India to bounce back and take it to the final Super8 fixture against WI. 

Fantasy XI: Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Brian Bennett, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shivam Dube, Sikandar Raza, Hardik Pandya, Brad Evans, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy (vc), Jasprit Bumrah

Venue: M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai 

Winners Prediction: India