Zimbabwe National Cricket Team and India National Cricket Team are both teams on winning tracks. On February 26, in Chennai, one of these two teams will have to suffer. The result of the match will be dependent on the playing XIs of Team India and Zimbabwe. What will be the playing XIs? Let’s find out through this article.
This article will provide deep insights into India and Zimbabwe’s possible playing elevens. Proving their mettle in the group stage, both of the teams qualified for the next stage as deserving candidates. They qualified in the round of eight as one of the strongest sides in the competition. Their batters especially accomplished some serious jobs.
India Playing XI vs Zimbabwe—T20 World Cup 2026:
Openers: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan
Team India is likely to stick with this pair for the opening slots. As Sharma has been struggling with his form, expectations will be on Ishant Kishan for an explosive start at the beginning of the innings. If both of the batters are in good touch, then the result of the match can be easy to predict.
Middle-order: Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh.
The deep-rooted middle order is the main strength of the team. In the group stage, when the openers misfired, the middle order provided the much-needed support. Captain Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube are in good form and would like to continue their dominance in the Super 8 matches as well.
Bowlers: Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh.
The bowlers can be hard to predict for this particular match, mostly because of the workload management. Though Varun Chakravarthy, as expected, has been doing well for the team, along with Jasprit Bumrah. Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya, the seam-bowling all-rounders, will be there to deliver in the middle overs. Varun Chakravarthy will be the key figures, who can decide the ultimatum of the match. The surface in Chennai often offers support to the spinners.
India Playing 11: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh.
Zimbabwe Playing XI vs India—T20 World Cup 2026:
Openers: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani.
They are not Ishan Kishan or Abhishek Sharma. But Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani have already proved that they are here in the T20 World Cup 2026 to make a mark. Behind the team’s successful event against Australia and Sri Lanka, these two openers did their tasks precisely.
Middle-order: Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, and Tashinga Musekiwa.
Sikandar Raza, the captain himself, is the main man of the team. Against Sri Lanka, batters from this order played some remarkable knocks. If one of them gets set on the track, then the others will try to do fireworks in Chennai. Raza’s experience and skills against top bowlers will be an asset for the Zimbabwe cricket team.
Bowlers: Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani.
From the beginning of the tournament, there are very few pacers who have been delivering in a consistent manner. Blessing Muzarabani is one of them. He picked up wickets at regular intervals and was a vital cog of the team. Brad Evans and Graeme Cremer also performed well according to their calibres. They will try to utilise the deck as much as possible.
Zimbabwe playing 11: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (w), Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Graeme Cremer, Blessing Muzarabani.
