Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub
UNBEATEN at this tournament and well aware the spotlight is hovering above them every step of the way, surprise packages Zimbabwe hope the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 fairy-tale will continue today in a Super Eight showdown with two-time champions West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
The Chevrons arrived in India at the weekend from co-hosts Sri Lanka, to begin a tough phase in the Super Eight where they will face the Windies today before dating hosts India later this week and then concluding the campaign against neighbours South Africa next Sunday.
Justin Sammons’ men landed in Mumbai with confidence high following a strong showing in the group stage where they finished unbeaten and top of Group B.
From the onset, Sammons had made it clear the target was to reach the Super Eight stage, and everything that follows would be a bonus.
But the Chevrons have earned their stripes, and it appears the dressing room has not stopped believing even after hitting their initial target.
“There’s a belief in the group that we can most definitely get to the semi-final. Obviously, that means we’re going to have to be at our very best,” said Sammons.
“If we continue to execute our skills under pressure, it will give us a chance. There are going to be crowds that our players have not experienced before.
“It’ll be the first time for them. Playing under lights is also different for us. So, all those factors will come into it. But I certainly do have a belief that we can cause a few upsets.”
Once again Zimbabwe will go into the Super Eight phase as underdogs. The match against the West Indies is likely to set the tone for the Chevrons’ quest for a semi-final spot.
But they will first have to find a way to deal with the explosive batting from the Caribbeans, which has been the hallmark of West Indies’ campaign in this edition.
In fact, the Windies have thrived in this format in recent years more than in any other, winning the T20 World Cup in 2012 and 2016. They are aiming to re-write history.
Their strength lies mainly in players like Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer and Shefarne Rutherford, whose form has carried the Windies thus far.
But Zimbabwe have turned up a formidable unit built on all-round teamwork. They will need to keep the Windies power-hitters in check at the Wankhede Stadium, known for its batter-friendly conditions and shorter boundaries.
The Chevrons’ pace battery has been a crucial force in the group games where Blessing Muzarabani (nine wickets) and Bradley Evans (eight) have shared 17 wickets between themselves in three completed matches.
On the batting side, Brian Bennett has been the key man for Zimbabwe at the top order. Bennett, with two fifties and 175 runs under the belt, has carried his bat throughout the tournament.
His partnership with Tadiwa Marumani has always given the Chevrons a good start, whether batting first or chasing, and the pair is expected to play a similar role today.
Zimbabwe will also look up to the astute leadership of their captain Sikandar Raza, whose influence has been critical throughout the campaign.
Raza has also taken the responsibility on his shoulders, often contributing the crucial runs, along with Ryan Burl in the middle overs, to see Zimbabwe over the line. They face West Indies with a strong belief their road to the Super Eights was not accidental. Probably skeptics somewhere had waited for the bubble to burst but it has not, and here they are, unbeaten in three matches and marching into the coveted Super Eight stage as group leaders.
Zimbabwe surprised many with their strong performances, confidently snatching victories over two former champions, Australia and Sri Lanka in their group.
While beating Australia was historic, the win against the latter spoke highly of Zimbabwe’s bravery and growing confidence as they chased down a competitive target and beat the Sri Lankans in front of a sold-out crowd on their backyard.
But this week this grit will be tested once again after they were pitted in Group One, which interestingly has four teams that finished the group stages unbeaten (Zimbabwe, South Africa, India and West Indies).
Zimbabwe and West Indies have played only four times in T20Is since their first meeting in Trinidad in 2010, when the Chevrons won by 26 runs.
But over the years, the Caribbean side seized the momentum and dominated the head-to-head record after winning three of the four encounters. The teams last played at the 2022 World Cup in Hobart where the West Indies triumphed by 31 runs.
West Indies coach Darren Sammy yesterday said they are not taking the Zimbabweans lightly. Sammy, whose team has won four games on the trot at this tournament, believes every opponent should be given the respect they deserve.
“Like us, they (Zimbabwe) are very confident, they are playing some good cricket,” he told journalists during a pre-match press conference yesterday.
“T20 is a format that brings teams closer together. There’s no clear-cut winner. These guys have played well. Zimbabwe, missing out on the last World Cup, they are led well. Sikandar (Raza) is very confident. He leads by example.
“They’ve got six fans in the stands that sounds like one million. There are a lot of things that are going for them. I could understand from that standpoint, where nobody gives you a chance, how you could use that as inspiration.”
Just like many in the cricket circles, Sammy also believes gone are the day when underdogs would submit easily.
“This tournament, we had 20 teams. Especially in our group (C), everybody won a game. The Associate teams have really pushed the full members.
“It says that the game is growing, especially in the shorter format. One person could actually impact the game on winning or losing,” he said.
With the West Indies having multiple match-winners in their unbeaten run so far, Sammy said it is due to diligence shown by every member of the side.
“It’s the first time in a long time that we’ve had every single person that is available for West Indies playing,” he said.
Meanwhile, South Africa beat India by 76 runs in the first game of group 1 in the Super Eights at Ahmedabad yesterday.
