The highly anticipated first Twenty20 International (T20I) between India Women and Zimbabwe Women is just hours away, marking a significant milestone as the two nations clash in their maiden bilateral T20I series.
The match is scheduled for October 16, 2026, at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, with play commencing at 7:00 PM IST. All eyes will be on Smriti Mandhana, who takes the reins as India’s full-time captain in this format for the first time, with Shafali Verma named as her deputy.
India’s Squad and Key Absences
The Indian T20I squad for the series includes a blend of experienced players and emerging talent. Wicketkeepers Richa Ghosh and G Kamalini are part of the 15-member contingent, while Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Sree Charani, and Minnu Mani offer spin options. Fast bowlers Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Jintimani Kalita, and Nandni Sharma complete the bowling attack.
However, India will be without the services of Jemimah Rodrigues. Additionally, Shreyanka Patil, Radha Yadav, and Bharti Fulmali, who featured in the Asian Games squad, have not been included in the T20I setup for this series. Renuka Singh Thakur, also part of the Asian Games contingent, will join the ODI squad for this tour but is not in the T20I squad.
Predicted India Women Playing XI
Based on squad composition and insights from cricket analysts, here’s the likely playing XI for India Women for the 1st T20I against Zimbabwe Women:
| Player Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana (c) | Opening Batter |
| Shafali Verma (vc) | Opening Batter |
| Niki Prasad | Batter |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | Batter |
| Richa Ghosh (wk) | Wicketkeeper/Batter |
| Deepti Sharma | All-rounder |
| Prema Rawat | All-rounder |
| Sree Charani | All-rounder |
| Kranti Gaud | Bowler |
| Arundhati Reddy | Bowler |
| Jintimani Kalita | Bowler |
Zimbabwe’s Challenge
Zimbabwe, led by Josephine Nkomo, will be keen to challenge the hosts. The visitors will field the same squad that recently competed against the West Indies, a series where they secured an ODI victory but fell short in the T20Is. This series represents a significant opportunity for Zimbabwe to test themselves against a top-tier cricketing nation for the first time in a bilateral T20I setting. Women, under new leadership, look to assert their dominance against a developing Zimbabwe side.