Suryakumar Yadav ‘probed’ after India thrash Zimbabwe in Super 8 to stay alive in T20 World Cup semifinal race

India registered their first Super Eights win at the ICC T20 World Cup, cruising to a 72-run victory over Zimbabwe in Chennai. A dominant batting display powered the hosts to a record 256/4, making Brian Bennett’s unbeaten 97 in the chase insufficient as Zimbabwe’s campaign came to an end.

The emphatic response came after India’s setback against South Africa, with the batting unit firing collectively. Captain Suryakumar Yadav said the team consciously put previous results behind them to reset mentally.

“We didn’t think too much about what we did in the league stage or the last game in Ahmedabad,” Surya said. “Our video analyst showed us a slide of what we’ve done over the year. We took a lot of positivity from that. Contributions from all the batters, from the top till number seven, were heartening to see.”

India smashed 17 sixes, with the top six all playing impactful knocks in what became a record T20 World Cup total for the Men in Blue.

SKY wants sharper bowling

Despite the comprehensive win, Suryakumar admitted there was room for improvement, particularly with the ball, ahead of a knockout clash against the West Indies in Kolkata.

“To be very honest, we could have been a little bit more clinical with the ball. But at the end of the day, a win is a win. We’ll take it and move forward. We’ll tighten our screws when we play West Indies,” he said.

Presenter Pommie Mbangwa sensed the skipper had more to say and pressed him further.

“I don’t want to take any credit away from the Zimbabwean batters. They batted beautifully,” Yadav added. “Yes, the wicket was good, but they took their time in the powerplay and later batted smartly. Credit goes to them. But from the bowling point of view, we could have been a little smarter in taking the right options.”

The victory sets up a virtual quarterfinal against the West Indies in Kolkata, with every remaining game now a must-win. Yadav stressed the need for courage and bold decision-making in high-pressure scenarios.

“When we are in such situations, we have to be more courageous in taking calls. There’s no other option but to take the positive route. Once we reach Kolkata, we’ll sit down and think about that game. For now, it’s about a day off, travel, and relax,” he concluded.