India vs Zimbabwe: Team India's next match in the T20 World Cup 2026 is now against Zimbabwe. From the semi-final point of view, it is important for India to win this match to be held on the evening of 26th February. However, what that margin of victory should be will be known after the results of the South Africa and West Indies matches to be held before the India-Zimbabwe match.

However, Team India's preparations for the match to be held in Chennai are going on in full swing. This time he is also careful about the team combination. The position of the Indian playing eleven seems to be clear to a great extent from the statement of India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, who came to hold the press conference before the match against Zimbabwe.

Thoughts on left-right combination- Sitanshu Kotak

Sitanshu Kotak's statement has indicated that the pair of Indian openers i.e.

Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma may break in the match against Zimbabwe? He said that we are considering two things. First is the left-right combination and second is the bowling combination of the team. He further said that we need a good start in the opening.

Will Ishaan Kishan-Abhishek Sharma pair break up?

India's batting coach talked about left-right combination. But both Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan are lefties in the opening. In such a situation, the question arises whether Abhishek Sharma is going to be dropped against Zimbabwe? Or is Ishan Kishan's batting position going to change? The question is also whether Sanju Samson can be included in the playing 11 to make a left-right combination?

As far as Abhishek Sharma is concerned about being dropped, it does not seem so because he was seen sweating a lot during the training session. Head coach Gautam Gambhir has also worked hard on him. Similarly, Ishan Kishan is also in great form. In such a situation, it is difficult to say how right it would be to remove him from the opening. But if it is a matter of left-right combination as Sitanshu Kotak has said, then playing Samson instead of Ishaan in the opening is the only way.

Meaning, the pair of Ishan Kishan-Abhishek Sharma may break and in its place a new opening pair of Sanju Samson-Abhishek Sharma may be formed.

Will Sanju replace Rinku Singh?

Sanju Samson may get the place of Rinku Singh in the team, who had to return home from Chennai due to his father's ill health. Although he will join the team before the match against Zimbabwe, there is little hope of him playing.

Akshar Patel in place of Washington Sundar?

Sitanshu Kotak also talked about considering making changes in the bowling combination.

He also said that only an all-rounder can play at number 8. In these circumstances, the one change that seems to be happening could be the replacement of Washington Sundar, in whose place Akshar Patel may return to the team. Although Washington will be a local boy in Chennai, considering his performance, Team India can implement this change.

This could be India's playing 11 against Zimbabwe

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Verma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Varun Chakraborty, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh.

Click here for more information related to T20 World Cup 2026