India, Feb. 27 -- Sanju Samson made his way back into India's playing XI and wasted little time in leaving a mark at the top of the order. The wicketkeeper-batter got going in style, launching a six off just the second delivery he faced to signal his intent. He raced to 24 from 15 balls, taking on the Zimbabwe bowlers and putting them under early pressure. Although he could not convert the brisk start into a bigger score, his aggressive approach, which included two sixes and a boundary, ensured India seized momentum in the powerplay. The early surge laid the foundation for the batting unit to maintain that tempo and pile up an imposing 256/4.

Reacting in his trademark animated style, former India opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth summed up...