A NUMBER of firsts await India and Zimbabwe when the two teams meet in their first bilateral women’s cricket series in Raipur today.
Smriti Mandhana will lead India for the first time since replacing Harmanpreet Kaur as captain, Zimbabwe will play their first bilateral series against India, and Raipur will host its first international women’s match.
India arrive on the back of an Asia Cup triumph and Asian Games gold, and begin a new chapter with Mandhana at the helm.
“I wouldn’t say it’s an extremely new thing, but it’s something to look forward to,” Mandhana said, of taking on the role.
She is no stranger to leadership, having captained Maharashtra at the domestic level and led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to two WPL titles.
For India, she has captained the side in 18 T20Is, winning 11 and losing six. Her first stint came seven years ago, when she stepped in against England in Guwahati after Harmanpreet was ruled out with an injury.
The timing of her elevation comes at a high point in her batting career. Over the last three years, Mandhana has scored two centuries and 15 half-centuries in T20Is. In 2026, she has also taken her strike rate to a career-high 148.25.
At 30, and with 13 years of international cricket behind her, Mandhana brings plenty of experience to the role. Can she sustain her form while shouldering the added responsibility?
The answer will emerge over time, with India building towards the Champions Trophy in February.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, come into the series after a historic first ODI win over West Indies in September but they are yet to register a win in this format this year, having lost all 18 of their matches.
India’s Shafali Verma has made telling contributions in each of her last five T20Is and will be keen to carry that form into this series, now with the added responsibility of vice-captaincy.
Zimbabwe will rely on opener Kelis Ndhlovu for a solid start.
She has scored 320 runs in 18 T20Is this year, the most by a Zimbabwe batter. She is coming off a valiant 63 off 48 against West Indies and is the only Zimbabwean to have hit a half-century in T20Is this year.
In the absence of Jemimah Rodrigues, who is still recovering from a right hamstring tear, G Kamalini played two innings at No. 3 during the Asian Games.
However, India might be tempted to give Anushka Sharma or Niki Prasad a chance given the duo’s recent performances against Australia A.
With Shreyanka Patil missing from the squad after featuring in the Asian Games, Prema Rawat could come into the XI as a spinner.
Zimbabwe retained the same squad that played against West Indies in September-October. Expect them to go with the settled XI, with Kelis Ndhlovu, Beloved Biza and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano at the top.
They also have lot of pace options in Michelle Mavunga, Christine Mutasa, Tendai Makusa, Nomvelo Sibanda and Kudzai Chigora.
Allrounder Nyasha Gwanzura and Loryn Phiri are the spinners, along with Biza, who can chip in with a few overs.
Teams
India (probable): 1 Smriti Mandhana (capt), 2 Shafali Verma, 3 Anushka Sharma/Niki Prasad, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur, 5 Richa Ghosh (wk), 6 Bharti Fulmali, 7 Deepti Sharma, 8 Prema Rawat, 9 N Shree Charani, 10 Nandani Sharma, 11 Kranti Gaud.
Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Kelis Ndhlovu, 2 Beloved Biza, 3 Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, 4 Christine Mu-tasa, 5 Nyasha Gwanzura, 6 Chiedza Dhururu (wk), 7 Modester Mupachikwa (wk), 8 Josephine Nkomo (capt), 9 Kudzai Chigora, 10 Loryn Phiri, 11 Nomvelo Sibanda. — cricinfo.com
