Batting first, India unleashed havoc, racking up 256 for 4 in 20 overs – their highest ever and the tournament’s second-best score. Abhishek Sharma notched his maiden T20 WC fifty (55 off 30), Hardik Pandya blazed 50 not out (23 balls), and Tilak Varma hammered 44 not out (16 balls).

Defending 257, Zimbabwe managed only 184 for 6. Brian Bennett’s gritty 97 not out off 59 stood out, with Sikandar Raza adding 31. But India’s attack was lethal: Arshdeep Singh’s 3/24 earned player-of-the-match honors, Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy took one apiece.

Enter Shivam Dube. Trusted with the 15th over, he leaked 26 runs, finishing with 0/46 from two overs. This eclipsed Yuvraj Singh’s 25-run over from 2007 vs New Zealand. Despite picking a wicket, Dube’s wayward lines handed Zimbabwe easy runs in the chase.

India’s batsmen stole the show, but Dube’s record-breaking over serves as a cautionary tale in high-pressure cricket.

Opting to bowl first, Zimbabwe’s misery peaked early. Maposa, tasked with containing the explosive Indian lineup, started with the third over. Sanju Samson capitalized instantly, hammering two boundaries and a towering six. A no-ball and two wides inflated the damage to 23 – now the second-costliest debut over in T20 World Cup annals, eclipsed only by Steve Tikolo’s 25 against Sri Lanka back in 2007.

India’s innings was a spectacle. Abhishek Sharma stroked 55 off 30, blending elegance with aggression. Hardik Pandya then exploded for 50 off just 23 deliveries, while Tilak Varma’s 44 off 16 in the death overs pushed the score to intimidating heights.

Zimbabwe’s chase never took off despite Brian Bennett’s heroic 97 off 59. They folded at 184/6. Arshdeep Singh led the bowling charge with 3/24 in four overs, supported by wickets from Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel.

This defeat underscores Zimbabwe’s challenges against top-tier sides, while Maposa’s over becomes infamous lore in cricket’s shortest format.