Having put to bat first, Team India`s wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson scored 24 runs in 15 balls, including a boundary and two maximums. Fellow opening batsman Abhishek Sharma smashed 55 runs after facing 30 balls, including four boundaries and the same number of maximums (Pic: X/@BCCI)

Facing 24 deliveries, Ishan Kishan played a knock of 38 runs, which was laced with four boundaries and a maximum (Pic: X/@BCCI)

Later, Skipper Suryakumar Yadav also accumulated 33 runs off just 13 balls, including three boundaries and two maximums. Premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya garnered an unbeaten 50 runs off 23 balls, including two boundaries and four maximums. Shouldering him was Tilak Varma, who scored an unbeaten 44 runs in just 16 balls, with the help of three boundaries and four maximums. With this, the "Men in Blue" posted a total of 156 runs for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs (Pic: X/@BCCI)

Zimbabwe`s Blessing Muzarabani returned with the figures of one wicket for 43 runs in four overs. Richard Ngarava, Tinotenda Maposa, and skipper Sikandar Raza bagged one wicket each. Brad Evans, Brian Bennett, and Ryan Burl went wicketless in the T20 World Cup 2026 match against Team India (Pic: X/@ZimCricketv)

Ahead of the second essay of the match, Team India`s vice-captain Axar Patel, who was benched in the previous game against South Africa, will be expected to make crucial contributions with the ball (Pic: File Pic)