New Delhi, October 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Smriti Mandhana will begin her tenure as India women’s full-time captain with the upcoming T20I and ODI series against Zimbabwe, after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squads for the tour.
Mandhana was appointed captain across formats on Tuesday following Harmanpreet Kaur’s decision to step down from the leadership role. The left-handed opener has previously led India in 18 T20Is and four ODIs and will now take charge of the team on a full-time basis.
Shafali Verma has been named vice-captain for the three-match T20I series, while Deepti Sharma will serve as Mandhana’s deputy in the ODIs. Harmanpreet continues to be part of both squads.
The T20I squad features maiden call-ups for Niki Prasad and Jintimani Kalita. Anushka Sharma, Minnu Mani and leg-spinner Prema Rawat have also returned to the national setup.
Niki and Jintimani have represented India A, with both featuring in the side that faced England A earlier this year. Prema, meanwhile, has previously played for India and was included in the T20 World Cup squad after Shreyanka Patil was ruled out through injury. She also impressed during India A’s successful Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars campaign, claiming eight wickets in five matches.
The Zimbabwe series will be India’s first assignment after their women’s team retained the Asian Games gold medal in Aichi-Nagoya. India had entered the Games as defending champions after winning the women’s cricket gold at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
There are five changes in the T20I squad from the group that won gold at the Asian Games. Niki, Anushka, Jintimani, Prema and Minnu have come in, replacing Bharti Fulmali, Pratika Rawal, Renuka Thakur, Radha Yadav and Shreyanka Patil.
For the ODI series, Tejal Hasabnis and Sayali Satghare have been recalled. Both were part of the India A side that toured England earlier this year, with Hasabnis scoring an unbeaten 57 against England A in a one-day match.
Mandhana’s elevation marks a new leadership phase for Indian women’s cricket. She has been part of the national side since 2013 and has also led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Women’s Premier League titles in 2024 and 2026.
India will play the three T20Is in Raipur on October 16, 18 and 20, followed by three ODIs in Vadodara on October 23, 25 and 28.
India’s T20I Squad: Smriti Mandhana (C), Shafali Verma (VC), Niki Prasad, Harmanpreet Kaur, Anushka Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), G Kamalini (WK), Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Sree Charani, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Jintimani Kalita, Minnu Mani.
India’s ODI Squad: Smriti Mandhana (C), Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Harleen Deol, Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma (VC), Richa Ghosh (WK), Yastika Bhatia (WK), Vaishnavi Sharma, Nandni Sharma, Sree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Renuka Thakur.
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