Cricket-India thump Zimbabwe to revive T20 World Cup title defence

Cricket - ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 - Super 8 - India v Zimbabwe - MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, India - February 26, 2026 India's Hardik Pandya celebrates with Tilak Varma after reaching his half century REUTERS/Priyanshu Singh

CHENNAI, India, Feb 26 (Reuters) - A rampant ⁠India piled up a record total and handed Zimbabwe a 72‑run shellacking in a Super ⁠Eight contest on Thursday to revive their Twenty20 World Cup title defence.

Sent in, the hosts ‌blasted 256‑4, the tournament's highest score this year, after Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya smoked blistering half‑centuries.