Raipur, October 16, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India captain Smriti Mandhana welcomed her team’s four-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the first T20I but acknowledged that the hosts had fallen short of their own expectations in the series opener at Raipur on Friday.
India stumbled to 19/4 while chasing a target of 115 before Deepti Sharma and debutant Niki Prasad rescued the innings with an 82-run partnership. Deepti scored 49, while Niki remained unbeaten on 39 as India reached the target with 26 balls to spare, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The second T20I will be played at the same venue on Sunday.
“Process-wise, we might not have played the exact way we wanted as a team, but a win is a win,” Mandhana said after the match. She praised Nandni Sharma for her bowling, Niki for showing composure on debut and Deepti for delivering another important performance.
“She’s a true legend of the game. We’re really happy to get the win, but there are definitely plenty of takeaways and areas for us to work on as a group,” Mandhana said of Deepti.
The captain confirmed that the team had already discussed areas requiring improvement in the dressing room but declined to disclose the specifics. She also highlighted India’s fielding intensity, particularly the efforts of players who threw themselves around to save runs.
Mandhana said facing an unfamiliar opponent presented challenges, as preparation through video footage could not fully replicate match conditions. However, she felt India adapted effectively towards the end of Zimbabwe’s innings by using slower deliveries.
Reflecting on Deepti’s knock, Mandhana said the all-rounder’s attacking intent prevented Zimbabwe’s bowlers from settling and gave her confidence at the other end.
Zimbabwe captain Josephine Nkomo praised her bowlers for reducing India to 19/4 in the powerplay, describing their fighting spirit as a major positive. She said the team had focused on maintaining a good line and length and backing its fielding.
Nkomo identified the number of dot balls as a key concern after Zimbabwe finished at 114/5, having played out 67 deliveries without scoring. She said converting more of those deliveries into singles and twos would help the team improve its batting performance.
FOLLOW NOW
