India delivered one of the most explosive batting performances in T20 World Cup history, piling up 256/4 against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium
in Chennai - the second-highest total ever recorded in a men's T20 World Cup.
After opting for an aggressive approach in a must-win Super 8 fixture, India's top order laid the platform before the middle order unleashed in the death overs. Abhishek Sharma struck a rapid half-century to set the tempo, while Hardik Pandya finished unbeaten on 50 off just 23 balls, ensuring the innings ended with maximum damage. India struck 17 sixes in total - their highest in a T20 World Cup innings - as Zimbabwe's bowling attack struggled to stem the flow.
By the 18th over, India had already crossed 220, surpassing their previous World Cup-best of 218/4 against England in 2007. With two overs still remaining, they briefly threatened Sri Lanka's all-time tournament record of 260/6 (set against Kenya in 2007), ultimately finishing just four runs short.
The 256/4 now sits second on the list of highest totals in T20 World Cup history, behind only Sri Lanka's 260/6. It also eclipses West Indies' 254/6 against Zimbabwe earlier in the 2026 edition, underlining how this tournament has produced some of the most high-scoring encounters in its history.
For India, the timing of the onslaught could not have been more significant. Entering the match under net run-rate pressure following a heavy defeat to South Africa, they needed not just a win but a commanding one. With 256 on the board, India have thrown the qualification equation wide open - and reasserted their aggressive brand of cricket at the most crucial stage of the tournament.
