Vadodara, October 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India captain Smriti Mandhana won the toss and elected to bat first against Zimbabwe in the second ODI at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday. Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma replaced fast bowler Kranti Gaud, who was rested for the match.
India lead the three-match series 1-0 and will secure an unassailable advantage with a victory in the second ODI.
Explaining the team change after the toss, Mandhana said the decision was taken to give Vaishnavi more game time. The spinner made her ODI debut against Australia in Hobart earlier this year.
“Looks like a good wicket to bat on. We thought of resting Kranti and giving game time to Vaishnavi. To be fair, we just wanted to rest Kranti and give Vaishnavi some game time. It wasn’t specifically about pacers versus spinners. But having said that, Vaishnavi bowled exceptionally well in the previous game, so bringing in another left-arm spinner is certainly not a bad option to have,” Mandhana said.
The India captain also confirmed that Shafali Verma would continue to bat at number three after scoring an unbeaten 64 in the opening match.
“Shafali has been in great form since the T20 series. With the kind of explosive batting she brings, she can change the course of a game within a few overs. Plus, she gives us a few useful overs with the ball. So yes, we’re going to stick with Shafali at number three and see how it goes,” she said.
Reflecting on her experience as captain, Mandhana said communication and understanding the players’ mindset had been among the most rewarding aspects of the role.
“I’d say the communication aspect, just understanding where the players are at mentally and keeping those lines open,” she said.
On a lighter note, Mandhana added that managing a 50-over match as captain seemed to pass more quickly than when she was simply fielding. She praised the team’s players and highlighted her interactions with them as a particularly enjoyable part of the responsibility.
For Zimbabwe, regular captain Josephine Nkomo returned to the playing XI after missing the opening match due to a shoulder issue. Sharne Mayers was left out.
Nkomo said Zimbabwe needed to adopt a more positive approach with the bat and build a strong innings through the final five overs. She also expressed confidence in the team’s assessment of the playing conditions.
“I think we just need to step up on our batting, just score, just be a little bit more positive, show some intent, and then make sure we have a strong innings getting into the last five overs. Hopefully, we will be able to use the conditions and take a few early wickets, because this wicket is absolutely fair,” Nkomo said.
She added that the team had adapted well to the conditions, describing the weather as similar to Mumbai, although slightly hotter.
India’s playing XI comprises Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana (captain), Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur, Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare, N Sree Charani and Jintimani Kalita.
Zimbabwe’s playing XI features Modester Mupachikwa (wicketkeeper), Loryn Phiri, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Beloved Biza, Josephine Nkomo (captain), Nyasha Gwanzura, Chiedza Dhururu, Michelle Mavunga, Nomvelo Sibanda, Tendai Makusha and Olinder Chare.
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