It was not quite the baptism by fire that Smriti Mandhana had expected in her first match as India’s full-time captain, but the hosts ultimately overcame a major early scare to defeat Zimbabwe by four wickets with 26 balls to spare in the opening women’s T20I at Raipur.
Played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, which was hosting its first-ever women’s international fixture, the match provided plenty of early drama. After restricting Zimbabwe to a modest total of 114 for 5—a score that proved to be grossly under-par for the pitch conditions—India found themselves in dire straits at 19 for 4 within the first 19 balls of the run chase. A sensational opening spell by offspinner Nyasha Gwanzura left the home side reeling after she accounted for India’s new captain, vice-captain Shafali Verma, and new No. 3 batter Anushka Sharma in quick succession.
However, a composed and resilient 82-run partnership for the fifth wicket between debutant Niki Prasad and experienced all-rounder Deepti Sharma steadied the ship. The duo ensured that India’s home international season started on a winning note. Notably, Prasad displayed a remarkable sense of deja vu, having walked into a similar high-pressure situation on her Women’s Premier League (WPL) debut in 2025 with the Delhi Capitals, where she also helped rescue her team and walked away with the Player-of-the-Match award.
India’s Top-Order Wobble
The chase for a target of 115 began in explosive fashion as India raced to 14 runs off the very first over bowled by Tendai Makusha. Mandhana immediately asserted herself by heaving a short delivery over the midwicket boundary. She followed it up with a toe-end shot toward deep third, where Zimbabwe’s Sharne Mayers committed a misfield. When Shafali Verma concluded the over with a crisp, well-timed drive through cover-point, it appeared that India would make light work of the modest target.
However, the complexion of the match changed dramatically when Zimbabwe introduced offspin against Mandhana, a tactical ploy frequently employed by teams in modern T20 internationals. While it was not necessarily a traditional wicket-taking delivery that brought the breakthrough, the pressure paid off immediately. Gwanzura pitched her very first ball short on middle stump, offering Mandhana an inviting opportunity. Instead of dispatching it cleanly, Mandhana rocked back to pull over square leg but only managed a top-edge, allowing Makusha to take a safe catch inside the ring.
The pressure mounted instantly. Just a ball after Anushka Sharma had successfully cut a shortish delivery through point, Gwanzura struck again, inducing Anushka to reach out for a flighted delivery and slice it straight to backward point.
The procession of wickets continued when former India captain Harmanpreet Kaur stepped to the crease. She attempted to whip a full-length ball on her legs straight to the midwicket boundary, only to pick out the fielder off the bowling of Michelle Mavunga, who operates with a distinct, slingy bowling action. When Gwanzura returned to trap Shafali caught-and-bowled right at the start of the fourth over, India had lost four wickets for just 19 runs, and the wheels of their run chase appeared dangerously close to coming completely off.
Prasad and Deepti Show How It’s Done
Walking in at 19 for 3 after receiving her international cap from Mandhana earlier in the day, Niki Prasad began her maiden international innings with four consecutive dot balls. But as she settled alongside Deepti Sharma, she quickly found her footing. Prasad was content to bide her time, rotating the strike intelligently and allowing her more experienced partner to take charge of the scoring rate.
Deepti signalled India’s intent by heaving Mavunga—who had earlier bowled a wicket-maiden—over forward square leg. She followed this up with two well-placed boundaries off Gwanzura during the final over of the powerplay.
Prasad soon began to display the impressive batting credentials that have earned her a high reputation in domestic circles, continuing the fine form she demonstrated during the India A series against Australia A earlier in the month. She punched Francisca Chipare through midwicket for her first boundary in international cricket, before executing a textbook punched drive through extra cover. The second shot lacked any unnecessary extravagance; it was a simple, elegant transfer of weight forward against a good-length ball, waiting just an extra fraction of a second to push the ball firmly between mid-off and the covers.
When Deepti and Prasad combined to plunder 15 runs from the 10th over, bowled by legspinner Olinder Chare, India were firmly back in the driver’s seat. Deepti then targeted Mavunga, striking her for three consecutive boundaries as she approached a well-deserved half-century. However, just shy of the milestone, she top-edged an attempted sweep shot to short fine leg and departed for 49.
India lost Richa Ghosh shortly afterward, two balls after she had launched offspinner Beloved Biza for a massive six. Yet, Prasad remained cool under pressure, guiding the innings through to the very end to ensure that India crossed the finish line safely.
Ndhlovu and Mayers Sparkle for Zimbabwe
Sent in to bat after losing the toss in their first-ever international outing against India, Zimbabwe suffered an immediate setback when Kranti Gaud trapped Beloved Biza lbw in the opening over of the match.
Opener Kelis Ndhlovu responded by steadying the innings, regularly finding the boundary whenever width was offered. She capitalized effectively on the loose deliveries provided by Gaud while also successfully employing the sweep shot against the spin of Shafali and Deepti. Alongside wicketkeeper Modester Mupachikwa, Ndhlovu built a crucial 53-run partnership to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Following the drinks break, N Shree Charani broke the stand by having Mupachikwa caught and bowled. Sharne Mayers then strode to the crease with aggressive intent, even as Ndhlovu struggled for timing at the other end. Mayers lofted Deepti cleanly over mid-off before dispatching Shafali over long-on for a maximum.
Arundhati Reddy appeared to have dismissed Ndhlovu when Prasad took a catch running in from long-off, prompting the batter to begin walking off the field. However, after a review, the TV umpire ruled that the ball had touched the turf first, recalling Ndhlovu to the crease. The reprieve was brief, as Reddy bowled her with a dipping full toss on the very next delivery, ending a hard-fought knock of 42.
Mayers continued to play her shots, taking on Reddy in the 18th over by hitting her for a six and two consecutive boundaries to push Zimbabwe past the 100-run mark. Nandani Sharma then claimed two wickets in two balls during the final over of the innings, restricting Zimbabwe to 114 for 5. Though they fought valiantly and defended their total with spirit, the score ultimately proved insufficient to pull off an upset against the home side.
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