India vs Zimbabwe Highlights T20 World Cup: IND set up virtual quarterfinal, monster batting display earns 72-run win

IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup LIVE Score: Ishan Kishan gets away with one! Tries to hit a switch hit but gets it a little too square towards backward point in the deep, and the man on the boundary doesn't react on time. He is a little flat-footed and doesn't quite get there, drops short and gives him a bonus life.

Abhishek Sharma hammers another six very next ball.

IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup LIVE Score: Kishan and Abhishek happy to show Raza and Bennett's off-spin some respect as they come on. Rotate strike but don't try to attack. That will change soon.

IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup LIVE Score: Shot of the day so far! Stable base, lovely swing of the bat, high and handsome back over the bowler's head.

Abhishek Sharma off to a flier. 33*(13) for him.

IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup LIVE Score: Good hit from Abhishek Sharma! Zimbabwe asking him to swing across the line and for now Abhishek is succeeding in finding the middle of his bat. Towering six over midwicket.

63/1 after 5 overs.

IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup LIVE Score: Blessing Muzarabani strikes! Very similar to how Samson was dismissed earlier in the tournament against Namibia. There's a man in the deep and he tries to take him on, but not enough on it. Fielder can run in and take a simple catch.

48/1. Samson was looking good too.

IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup LIVE Score: Great start for India as Abhishek Sharma picks up his first six, off a slower ball! It's now 46/0 after 3 overs and this is looking set to be by far India's best powerplay of the tournament. Much more like it.

IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup LIVE Score: Much more like himself right there, from Abhishek! Overpitched outside his off-stump, and he can play a lovely drive over extra-cover for four.

Gets a free-hit too, and that shot is also a great one as well – overpitched but he doesn't try to swing out of his shoes, and plays a lovely check drive over the bowler's head. Looking much more comfortable so far.

IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup LIVE Score: Great shot! Zimbabwe's premier bowler on but Samson ready to take the challenge to him. Makes some room and it's a similar shot, off the backfoot and swatted over mid-on. All the way for six.

IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup LIVE Score: 13 runs come off the first over thanks to those boundaries. Samson retains strike heading into the second.

IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup LIVE Score: What a shot that is from Sanju Samson! It's short and pace on, but Samson has made his mind up to tonk it down the ground. Cross-batted and over mid-off all the way for six!

Next ball off his thigh pad and runs away for four leg-byes.

IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup LIVE Score: So there is confirmation – it is Sanju Samson opening with Abhishek Sharma as India look for variety at the top of the order.

Crucial game and ready to get going now, against Richard Ngarava.

IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup LIVE Score: A solitary change for Zimbabwe too as Maposa comes in for Cremer.

Zimbabwe XI: Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk), Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Ryan Burl, Sikandar Raza (c), Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Brad Evans, Tinotenda Maposa, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava

IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup LIVE Score: The big information is that Sanju Samson does come in with Rinku Singh dropping out. Will be very interesting to see the batting lineup now. Axar Patel does come in for Washington Sundar too.

India XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah

IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup LIVE Score: The toss goes in Sikandar Raza's favour and he opts to BOWL FIRST. Says his hand is holding up okay but they didn't take the x-ray just to ensure he could play here.

SKY says India wanted to bat first anyway, so good for India. Team news next.

IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup LIVE Score: Nearly time for the toss in Chennai now, where Suryakumar Yadav and Sikandar Raza will meet in the middle.

IND vs ZIM T20 World Cup LIVE Score: It's all over in Ahmedabad, where clinical South Africa win by 9 wickets and qualify through to the semifinals. India's turn to get business done on their end, which would set up a delicious win-or-go-home match in Kolkata on Sunday. But focus will be in Chennai first, where the toss is around the corner.

IND vs ZIM Live Updates: One concern cited was with the lack of true strike bowlers at important times through the middle overs against South Africa, as India often went too defensive against the marauding David Miller and Dewald Brevis. With Varun Chakravarthy having an off-day, India might have benefitted from Kuldeep Yadav's inclusion. However, that would likely come at the expense of batting depth, which can often be so crucial in T20 cricket.

IND vs ZIM Live Updates: Zimbabwe have plenty of quality players who have done good work to help them get to this stage, with batters like Brian Bennett standing up. However, the team's true gamechanger and the player who will concern India the most is Blessing Muzarabani. The extra-tall seamer has had a phenomenal tournament, with a player of the match performance against Australia. His steepling bounce, seam, and pace has made him a real threat, and with how vulnerable India's batting has been near the top, he could have an outsized impact. Attacking him will be key for India's hopes.

IND vs ZIM Live Updates: In six matches at Chepauk thus far this tournament, three have been won batting first and three batting second. In that sense, neither team will be afraid of some bias after the toss. Both might prefer to chase – Zimbabwe will be slightly scarred from the battering at the hands of the West Indies, but a good chase against Sri Lanka should still be their template. India might prefer chasing too – although the struggled against South Africa, that might be the easier route to take to establish a big net run-rate boost given the team's batting form.

IND vs ZIM Live Updates: At the toss against South Africa, captain SKY said Axar Patel was unfortunate not to find a game, with tactics being cited as the reason to persist with Washington Sundar. Washi didn't bowl much, and his promotion up the order didn't bear fruit either. While both players are of great quality and have similar skillsets, Axar's added experience and greater comfort acting as a stopper with the bat higher up the order might see him get the nod.

IND vs ZIM Live Updates: India's biggest concern right through the tournament has been the inability for the top order batters to click simultaneously. While Suryakumar Yadav came good against USA and Ishan Kishan against Pakistan, it has never worked cohesively – but the biggest concern is Abhishek Sharma's total lack of form since his illness earlier in the tournament. A strong Abhishek is often enough to decide games himself. At the moment, India will be afraid that his lack of runs makes him almost a liability. He should certainly be backed, but there is much to think about.

IND vs ZIM Live Updates: Half-time in the day match in Ahmedabad, and India will know that the Proteas need 177 to win against the Windies. That would put them through to the semifinals – and then if India manage to win against Zimbabwe later today, sets up the India vs WI game in Kolkata on Sunday as a virtual quarterfinal.

IND vs ZIM Live Updates: India head over to Chepauk for this match, having played their last two games in Ahmedabad and earlier games in the other venues across India and Sri Lanka. Chennai has seen a few games where it has proved to be a slightly better batting track than predicted, with runs on offer and a flatness that has allowed explosive batting. Could be India's best opportunity to get some rhythm into the batters at the top of the order.

IND vs ZIM Live Updates: Over in Ahmedabad, South Africa are taking on West Indies for a win and a place at the top of the table, and safe qualification through to the semifinals. India might want to keep qualification in their own hands, which means they might want the Proteas to help out with a win over the Windies. A Windies win could mean it becomes a net run-rate race in the best-case for India. So we will keep half an eye on that match too – South Africa on top, but Romario Shepherd threatening late on.

IND vs ZIM Live Updates: India and Zimbabwe both suffered opening match losses in Group 1, losing to South Africa and West Indies respectively. Both were heavy losses to boot – India's batting fell apart and left them chasing shadows, while Zimbabwe's bowlers were slaughtered as they conceded 254 against the Windies. This means this match is suddenly a crucial one to get off the foot of the table, and to fiz the net run-rate to boot.