In a breathtaking display of power-hitting, Team India rewrote the record books at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad during the T20 World Cup 2026 Super-8 clash against Zimbabwe. Opting to bat first after losing the toss, India posted a mammoth 256/4, smashing an unprecedented 17 sixes in a single innings – the highest ever by the Men in Blue in a T20 World Cup match.
The fireworks began with openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma laying a solid foundation. Their 48-run stand in just 3.4 overs set the tone. Samson fell for 24, but Abhishek carried on, partnering with Ishan Kishan for a 72-run alliance off 42 balls, propelling India to 120. Abhishek’s explosive 55 off 30 balls, laced with four sixes and four fours, was a highlight before he departed.
Ishan contributed a brisk 38 off 24 balls with five boundaries. By the 14.5-over mark, India were 172/4. Enter Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya, who unleashed havoc with an unbroken 84-run stand off 31 balls. Hardik remained not out on a blistering 50 off 23 deliveries, featuring six boundaries, while Tilak’s unbeaten 44 off 16 balls included four massive sixes and three fours.
Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Tilak Varma each hammered four sixes apiece, with Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson adding two each, and Ishan Kishan one. This eclipses India’s previous best of 15 sixes against Australia in 2024. Globally, West Indies and Netherlands share the all-time record with 19 sixes each – West Indies against Zimbabwe in this very tournament and Netherlands vs Ireland in 2014. Australia follows with 16 against India in 2010.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers toiled without much success: Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Tinotenda Maposa, and captain Sikandar Raza claimed one wicket each. India’s dominance underscores their evolution into six-hitting machines, setting a new benchmark in T20 cricket’s marquee event.