Will Surya correct his mistake against Zimbabwe? This star all-rounder is sure to return to the playing 11, Samson may also get his last chance

IND vs ZIM SUPER-8: ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is now at an exciting turn, Team India, full of confidence with consecutive wins in the group stage, entered the Super-8 with a new strategy, but this move backfired. In the crucial match against South Africa, the change in the combination broke the team’s rhythm and the crushing defeat of 76 runs made the path to the semi-finals complicated. Now, before the match against Zimbabwe this evening (26 February) at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, the pressure is clearly visible on captain Suryakumar Yadav and the team management to choose the right combination.

Akshar’s return decided

The most talked about decision is in which vice-captain and reliable all-rounder Akshar Patel was kept out and Washington Sundar was given a chance. This experiment neither worked in bowling nor did the team get the desired balance in batting. Lack of control in the middle overs and lack of depth in batting became the major reasons for the team’s defeat. In such a situation, cricket experts believe that Akshar Patel’s return to the playing eleven against Zimbabwe is almost certain. His presence will not only bring variety to the bowling but will also provide stability in the lower order.

Will Samson get a chance?

On the other hand, the possibility of a change in the top order is also becoming stronger. Current opener in Super-8 stage Abhishek Sharma The bat has remained silent till now, in such a situation the team management can seriously think about the options. in this series sanju samson The name is once again at the center of discussion. Samson may have had limited opportunities in this tournament, but whenever he got the chance, he has shown aggressive intent – ​​his 22 off just 8 balls against Namibia is an example of this.

However, Sanju’s form in the bilateral series before the World Cup has been a matter of concern. In the last 12 T20 International innings, he has scored only one half-century. He got good starts several times, but consistently failed to convert those opportunities into big innings. On the other hand, the selectors are in a state of confusion due to Abhishek not scoring runs. In such a situation, the match against Zimbabwe can prove to be a big opportunity for Sanju Samson, where his usefulness and consistency will be finally tested on the big stage.

On the other hand, if Abhishek plays, Samson can also be included in the team in place of Rinku Singh. Indian team’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, while talking to the media, has indicated that discussions are going on on the combination of left-handed batsmen to create balance in the top order. Especially a plan is being considered to make the match-up complicated for the bowlers by making changes in the top-3. In such a situation, Sanju Samson can emerge as a strong option.

Kotak also confirmed that Rinku Singh had left the team camp to take care of his ailing father, but is expected to return by Wednesday evening. However, despite his availability, it is not necessary that India immediately field him in the playing eleven.

For Suryakumar Yadav, this match is not just about scoring two points, but also about proving strategic credibility. His aggressive thinking as a captain has been appreciated, but in a pressure-packed stage like the Super-8, taking balanced decisions is equally important.

Zimbabwe may appear to be a relatively weak team on paper, but the tournament has seen several upsets. In such a situation, Team India would not want to take any risk. Right combination, clear roles and strategy as per the circumstances – these three formulas can become the key to India’s comeback in this match.

Now all eyes are on the evening of 26th February – will Surya be able to correct his mistake? And will Akshar and Samson decide the new direction of the team? The answer will be found on the field after the toss.