India National Cricket Team vs Zimbabwe National Cricket Team Match: India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak indicated that significant changes to the playing XI are under consideration ahead of the team’s must-win T20 World Cup Super 8 match against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday, February 25, 2026. Kotak confirmed that the team management has discussed bringing Sanju Samson back into the lineup following repeated top-order failures in recent matches. “There have been discussions around that (on Samson), and we are thinking. We will see because we never decide the team early. But there will be thoughts,” Kotak said at the pre-match news conference.
The team is also reviewing its balance, particularly the presence of multiple left-handers at the top of the order, which opponents have targeted with off-spin bowling. “There can be changes in the game. We are thinking of the top three left-handers and the opposition's bowling off spin. Now that we have lost openers early in 3 matches, we are talking about it,” he added.
India’s openers have fallen early in each of the last three matches, increasing pressure on the middle order and affecting the team’s rhythm. Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma have struggled to deliver consistently in the tournament.
Tilak has scored 25, 25, 25, 31 and 1 in five matches but has batted at a strike rate below 120 in most outings, apart from the match against the United States in Mumbai. Abhishek has managed just 15 runs in four matches and was dismissed for a duck in his first three outings. Samson, meanwhile, has had limited opportunity. He made his tournament debut against Namibia in Delhi after Abhishek fell ill but managed only 22 runs.
Vice-captain Axar Patel is also expected to come back into the side after being left out against South Africa in favor of Washington Sundar.
India’s semifinal hopes suffered a setback after a 76-run loss to South Africa in its opening Super 8 match, the team’s largest defeat in World Cup history. India is currently third in Group 1 behind West Indies and South Africa, with a net run rate of minus-3.800.
To qualify for the semifinals, India must defeat Zimbabwe and West Indies. It would also benefit if South Africa wins its remaining Super 8 matches, which would leave South Africa on six points and India on four.
If qualification is determined by net run rate, India will likely need large-margin victories in its remaining matches. There remains a slim mathematical chance of progressing with two points, but that scenario would depend on multiple favorable results and a significant improvement in net run rate.