The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 roared to life for Zimbabwe as they made a triumphant return to the main stage, dispatching Oman by eight wickets in their Group B opener at Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports Club on Monday, February 9, 2026. After missing the 2024 edition, the Chevrons couldn’t have asked for a stronger start, but the victory arrived with a hint of concern as star wicket-keeper batter Brendan Taylor was forced off late in the chase due to injury.
Zimbabwe’s campaign began with a bold statement of intent, as captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and elected to bowl first. The decision paid immediate dividends. Oman, fielding a settled squad led by Jatinder Singh and seeking to capitalize on their own strong warm-up form—including a practice win over Zimbabwe—were left reeling as Zimbabwe’s pace attack tore through their top order.
Blessing Muzarabani set the tone in the powerplay, removing Jatinder Singh, Aamir Kaleem, and Karan Sonavale in quick succession. Richard Ngarava soon joined the party, dismissing Hammad Mirza, Jiten Ramanandi, and Vinayak Shukla. Brad Evans wasn’t to be left out, snaring three wickets including that of Sufyan Mehmood. Captain Sikandar Raza chipped in by dismissing Wasim Ali, further tightening the screws on Oman’s struggling batting lineup.
By the end of their innings, Oman had managed just 103 runs—their lowest total against Zimbabwe in T20 World Cup history. The Zimbabwean pace trio’s combined nine wickets marked a historic first for the nation in T20 International cricket, and each bowler’s personal milestone added gloss to the achievement: Ngarava now boasts 111 T20I wickets, Raza has reached 103, and Muzarabani is closing in on the century mark with 96 scalps.
Despite Oman’s recent morale-boosting win over Zimbabwe in a high-scoring warm-up, the gulf in experience and execution was evident. The Omani squad, making their fourth consecutive T20 World Cup appearance but still hunting for a major breakthrough, simply couldn’t withstand Zimbabwe’s relentless new-ball assault.
Zimbabwe’s chase was brisk and confident. Tadiwanashe Marumani set the tone with a rapid 21 off just 11 balls before being caught by Wasim Ali. Dion Myers, however, fell for a duck, leaving Zimbabwe at 43 for 2 at the end of the powerplay. Any nerves were quickly settled as Brian Bennett and Brendan Taylor constructed a rock-solid 59-run partnership, steering the Chevrons toward their target with calm assurance.
Just as Zimbabwe looked set for a routine finish, drama struck. Brendan Taylor, having played a composed knock and reached 31, was forced to retire hurt after sustaining an injury. The sight of Taylor limping off the field immediately sparked concern among fans and teammates alike. Captain Sikandar Raza, speaking to ICC commentator Mpumelelo Mbangwa after the match, explained his decision: "Yeah, suddenly, as soon as I saw that, because I’ve seen that picture far too many times, I know. And I just, as soon as we made eye contact, I wanted him out because this has happened before as well and he carried on playing and ended up making it worse. So I don’t want to take that chance with Brendan. I mean, he’s a very key member of our team as well. Hopefully, we’ve got three, four days as well. I wanted to get him out so that he doesn’t make it worse, but we’ll wait for the scan as well. His initial reaction was, ‘I think it’s bad, but I’ll wait for the medical report.’”
Zimbabwe’s medical team will be anxiously awaiting scan results to determine the severity of Taylor’s injury. With their next Group B fixture against tournament heavyweights Australia looming on Friday, February 13, Taylor’s fitness is crucial. The 40-year-old’s experience and composure behind the stumps are invaluable, though Zimbabwe do have backup options in Tadiwanashe Marumani and Clive Madande should he be ruled out.
Brian Bennett, meanwhile, continued his assured innings, finishing unbeaten as Zimbabwe completed the chase in just 13.3 overs. Captain Raza was at the crease with him when the winning runs were struck, sealing a comprehensive victory and giving the Chevrons a perfect start to their World Cup campaign.
For Oman, the defeat will sting, especially given their recent success against Zimbabwe in the warm-up match where they chased down a big total with four wickets in hand. However, the gulf in pressure between a practice game and a World Cup opener was evident, and Oman’s search for a landmark victory on the global stage continues. Their settled core, featuring Jatinder Singh, Mohammad Nadeem, and Vinayak Shukla, will need to regroup quickly if they’re to challenge for a spot in the next round.
The match was broadcast live on the Star Sports Network in India, with fans also able to stream the action via the JioHotstar app and website. Zimbabwe’s return to the tournament after missing the previous edition was closely watched, and their unbeaten run through the Africa Regional Final to qualify had already signaled their intent. The Chevrons’ blend of experience and youth is clearly paying dividends, as evidenced by their clinical performance with both ball and bat.
Elsewhere in Group B action, Scotland cruised past tournament debutants Italy by 73 runs in Kolkata, throwing down the gauntlet for the rest of the group. South Africa were scheduled to begin their campaign against Canada later in Ahmedabad, adding further intrigue to what’s shaping up as a fiercely competitive section.
Zimbabwe’s focus now shifts to their upcoming clash with Australia—a match that promises to test every facet of their game. The big question on everyone’s mind: will Brendan Taylor be fit in time? As Raza put it, the team will wait for the medical report before making any decisions. In the meantime, Zimbabwe can savor a job well done, knowing that their World Cup journey is off to a flying—if slightly nervy—start.
With pace bowlers firing, the batting unit clicking, and a captain leading with both head and heart, Zimbabwe have sent an early message to their rivals. But with a crucial fitness cloud hanging over a key player, the next few days will be critical. All eyes now turn to the medical room—and then to the field on Friday, where the Chevrons will look to build on their momentum against one of world cricket’s giants.