After a shaky start to the T20 World Cup 2026, Abhishek Sharma bounced back in style as India thrashed Zimbabwe by 72 runs in the Super 8s on Thursday. India’s batting unit, which had struggled in earlier matches, including a collapse against South Africa, delivered a record-breaking performance that saw all top six batters scoring at strike rates above 150.

Before the Zimbabwe clash, Abhishek had managed just 15 runs in four matches, including three consecutive ducks. He, along with other middle-order players like Tilak Varma, had found it difficult to play their natural aggressive game. The team’s morale had taken a hit after the heavy defeat to South Africa at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, where India was bowled out for 111 while chasing 188.

The turnaround came after the team reviewed a detailed video analysis prepared by the squad’s analysts. Suryakumar Yadav. Ishan Kishan added 38 off 24, Suryakumar Yadav 33 off 13, Hardik Pandya 50 off 23, and Tilak Varma 44 off 16, while Sanju Samson contributed 24. This was the first time in T20 World Cup history that every member of the top six scored 20+ runs at a strike rate above 150. India posted 254/4, and Zimbabwe could manage only 184 in response.

Tilak Varma credited the video analysis for boosting confidence, explaining that reviewing a year of T20 performances helped the team approach the game with a positive mindset. “After seeing that video, everyone got confidence. We discussed as a team to just enjoy, put a smile on, and go all out,” he said.

India will now face West Indies on Sunday in a do-or-die Super 8s clash, with the winner advancing to the semifinals. South Africa has already secured its spot from Group 1.