IND vs ZIM Match Prediction : 48th Match, Super 8, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2026
IND vs ZIM Win Probability
90%
India
10%
Zimbabwe
India To Win, 1.05
India is under pressure and has to register a big win to give itself the best chance of qualification for the semis.
On paper, India's team is far superior. It has, however, underperformed with the bat so far.
Chennai's surface has so far been quite good for the batters which is likely to be a good thing for India.
IND vs ZIM Betting Tips
Highest Individual Score: Over 67.5
Chepauk has been exceptionally kind to top-order batters in this World Cup. Six of the last seven T20Is played at this venue have featured at least one individual score exceeding 67 runs. Given the immense pressure on India's star-studded batting lineup to deliver a big win, expect a top-order player to clear this line.
Total Wickets: Under 12.5
The pitch at the MA Chidambaram Stadium has been a batting paradise throughout this tournament. Only one of the six games played here so far has seen more than 12 wickets fall. With India expected to post a massive total or chase comfortably, we are unlikely to see a flurry of wickets in this high-stakes encounter.
Team form (Last 5 matches)
India
Zimbabwe
N/A
India is desperately looking to bounce back as they face Zimbabwe in match number 48 of the ongoing T20 World Cup. Following a shocking defeat to South Africa, the hosts are under immense pressure. They don't just need a win; they ideally need a massive victory to drastically improve their Net Run Rate (NRR) and keep their tournament hopes alive.
The two teams will clash on Thursday under the lights at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Also Check: Today's Cricket Betting Rates
India vs Zimbabwe Head-to-Head Record
Historically, India has dominated this matchup. The Men in Blue have completely controlled their recent head-to-head contests, winning seven of their last eight T20I encounters against Zimbabwe.
India vs Zimbabwe Live-streaming and Broadcast
| Country | TV Channel | Live Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| India | Star Sports Network | Disney+ Hotstar App |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports, Ten Sports | Myco App, Tamasha App |
| Australia | — | Amazon Prime Video |
| England (UK) | Sky Sports (Cricket/Main Event) | SkyGO, NOW, Sky Sports App |
| USA & Canada | Willow TV | Willow by Cricbuzz App |
| West Indies | ESPN Caribbean | ESPN Play Caribbean |
| South Africa | SuperSport | SuperSport App |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport NZ | Sky Sport Now, Sky Go |
| Sri Lanka | Maharaja TV (TV1, Sirasa, Shakti) | ICC.tv / Maharaja TV Website |
| Bangladesh | Nagorik TV | Toffee |
| UAE & MENA | CricLife MAX | StarzPlay, StarzON |
You can find live odds, updated tips after every day's play, and more information about this match at ocbsports.com.
IND vs ZIM Team Previews
India
After smoothly sailing through the group stages, India was stunned by the Proteas on Sunday, suffering their heaviest defeat of this T20 World Cup. Given the unforgiving nature of the Super Eights, they have no time to lick their wounds. They are under massive pressure to produce a dominant, high-margin victory to repair their dented NRR.
The form of opener Abhishek Sharma is a glaring concern. Usually aggressive, he has struggled against the new ball, with opposition bowlers successfully tying him down by taking the pace off. This slow start has put immense pressure on his opening partner, Ishan Kishan, forcing him into high-risk shots from ball one.
The middle order has also been worryingly inconsistent. While Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Hardik Pandya are proven match-winners, none have found a steady rhythm this tournament. Tilak Varma has looked good in patches but is failing to convert starts into substantial scores.
Compounding India's issues are late squad disruptions and tactical headaches. Rinku Singh has reportedly returned home due to a family emergency and is unlikely to be available. Furthermore, opposing captains have been aggressively targeting India's left-hand heavy top order with off-spinners. To counter this matchup issue, Sanju Samson may be brought into the playing XI to provide stability and right-handed firepower.
The bowling, conversely, has been reliable. Jasprit Bumrah remains at his miserly best, and Varun Chakravarthy has effectively utilized his variations. Chakravarthy's bad game against SA can be seen as a one-off. The baffling omission of Axar Patel in Ahmedabad hurt the team balance, and his expected return here should bolster both the spin attack and the lower-order batting.
India Expected Playing 11
Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy.
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Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s journey to the Super Eights has been nothing short of a fairytale, famously qualifying ahead of heavyweights like Australia. However, reality hit hard on Monday when they were dismantled by the West Indies, suffering their largest-ever defeat in T20I history.
Despite that setback, Zimbabwe is not a team to be taken lightly, especially with the ball. Their seam attack has been their biggest strength. Blessing Muzarabani is currently among the top two wicket-takers of the tournament, using his height and pace to trouble the best batters. He has received excellent support from Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans.
If there is a weakness in the attack, it is the slower bowlers; the spin trio of Sikandar Raza, Wellington Masakadza, and Graeme Cremer has managed just five combined wickets while leaking runs at nearly 10 per over.
With the bat, Brian Bennett will be the key man. As their leading run-scorer in the tournament, Zimbabwe relies heavily on him for solid starts. While they boast talented hitters like Tadiwanashe Marumani, Tony Munyonga, and Dion Myers, the batting unit as a whole has lacked the consistency required to challenge top-tier nations regularly.
Zimbabwe Expected Playing 11
Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani.
IND vs ZIM Toss Prediction
In four of the last six matches played at Chepauk, the team winning the toss has opted to bat first. However, given the immense pressure on India to control the game's Net Run Rate mathematics—and the likelihood of evening dew—the captain winning the toss in this match will likely opt to bowl first and chase a target.
Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
We are expecting a brilliant batting surface at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The average first-innings score across the six matches played here during this tournament sits at a formidable 187. The pitch offers excellent pace and true bounce; once batters see off the initial overs, trusting the bounce to play through the line becomes much easier.
For bowlers, survival dictates constantly varying pace and using cutters.
The weather forecast is clear with no chance of rain. However, the infamous Chennai humidity will be a major factor in the latter half of the game, making the ball slippery and difficult for the slower bowlers to grip.
IND vs ZIM : Who Will Win?
We are firmly backing India to win this match. After a humiliating loss to South Africa, a fierce bounce-back performance is expected from the hosts, especially with their tournament lives on the line. While India cannot afford to take them lightly, the sheer difference in squad depth and spin quality should see the Men in Blue secure the crucial victory they need.
Bet on India to win.
