Raipur, October 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A new chapter in Indian women’s cricket will begin on Friday when Smriti Mandhana leads the national team as full-time captain for the first time in the opening T20I against Zimbabwe, who are still searching for their first victory in the format this year.
Friday’s match will also mark Zimbabwe’s first-ever bilateral series against India, while the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur is set to host a women’s international match for the first time.
Mandhana takes over from Harmanpreet Kaur after serving as vice-captain for almost a decade. She inherits a confident side that has won the Asia Cup and the Asian Games gold medal. Captaincy is not new to the left-handed opener, who has led Maharashtra in domestic cricket and guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to two Women’s Premier League (WPL) titles.
Mandhana has also captained India in 18 T20Is, winning 11 and losing six. Her first stint as national captain came seven years ago against England in Guwahati, when Harmanpreet was injured.
Her appointment comes at a time when she is in outstanding batting form. Over the last three years, Mandhana has scored two centuries and 15 half-centuries in T20Is, while raising her strike rate to a career-best 148.25 in 2026.
Harmanpreet remains an important figure in the dressing room, and her release from leadership responsibilities could allow her to play with greater freedom and make a bigger impact with the bat.
India’s main selection question concerns the number three position, left vacant by Jemimah Rodrigues, who is recovering from a right hamstring tear.
G Kamalini has batted at the position twice, but Anushka Sharma and Niki Prasad strengthened their claims with impressive performances against Australia A. Prema Rawat could also feature, with Shreyanka Patil not included in the squad for the series.
India will also look to vice-captain Shafali Verma and left-arm spinner N Sree Charani to maintain their strong form.
Zimbabwe, led by Josephine Nkomo, have lost all their T20Is this year. Their last victory in the format came against Namibia in September 2025. However, the team will draw confidence from its maiden ODI win over the West Indies at home in September.
Opener Kelis Ndhlovu, the only Zimbabwean batter to score a T20I half-century this year, will be a key player for the visitors.
The three-match T20I series will be followed by three ODIs in Vadodara from October 23 to 28.
Match Details
Match: India vs Zimbabwe, 1st T20I
Date: October 16, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Venue: Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, Raipur
Live Telecast: Star Sports Network
Live Streaming: JioHotstar app and website
Squads
India: Smriti Mandhana (captain), Shafali Verma (vice-captain), Niki Prasad, Harmanpreet Kaur, Anushka Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), G Kamalini (wicketkeeper), Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Sree Charani, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Jintimani Kalita and Minnu Mani.
Zimbabwe: Josephine Nkomo (captain), Beloved Biza, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Kelis Ndhlovu, Michelle Mavunga, Francisca Chipare, Olinder Chare, Kudzai Chigora, Nyasha Gwanzura, Nomvelo Sibanda, Loryn Phiri, Chiyedza Dhururu, Modester Mupachikwa, Tendai Makusha and Sharne Mayers.
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