Zimbabwe’s captain Sikandar Raza produced a brilliant performance in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against the Sri Lanka national cricket team in Colombo. He scored a quick 45 runs in 26 balls with a strike rate of 173.08 while chasing a big total of 179, aiding Zimbabwe win by six wickets with a few balls to spare. In addition, his batting, along with strong support from his teammate Brian Bennett, assured Zimbabwe finished the group stage and stayed on top of Group B.
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Raza’s effort earned him the player of the match (POTM) award, and in doing so, he created cricket history. It was his 20th POTM award in T20 internationals, the highest ever by a player from a full member nation, beating India’s Suryakumar Yadav’s tally and moving ahead of other greats.
The Zimbabwe skipper also became the oldest captain to win a POTM award in a T20 World Cup and in ICC events, surpassing Rohit Sharma’s record. At 39 years old, Raza showed incredible fitness and skill, assuring that experience still matters in big tournaments.
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Ultimately, this performance has not only boosted the Zimbabwe national cricket team’s confidence but also strengthened their position as a serious contender in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. In addition, experts believe Raza’s leadership and calm finishing underplayed a major role in Zimbabwe’s victory in the group stages. His experience, smart shot selection, and ability to handle big moments are proving useful for the team as they now qualify for tough challenges in the Super Eight stage.