The wait is finally over for India Women as they prepare to launch their 2025-29 ICC Women’s Championship campaign. After a lengthy hiatus from the 50-over format, the reigning ODI World Cup champions will kick off a crucial three-match series against Zimbabwe, marking their official entry into the current multi-year cycle. For a team that has played just three ODIs since their triumphant World Cup victory in November 2025—all of which came during a tough 3-0 series defeat against Australia in March—this upcoming contest offers a vital opportunity to reset, recalibrate, and establish some much-needed momentum on home soil.
The action shifts from the T20 leg in Raipur to the familiar surroundings of Vadodara, where India has previously featured in both ODIs and Women’s Premier League fixtures. While the next 50-over World Cup is still three years away, providing ample runway for squad development, the immediate priority lies in securing crucial Women’s Championship points. These matches carry significant weight beyond the bilateral series itself, dictating qualification standings over the next several years.
Big picture: Long road to the 2029 World Cup
The wider landscape of the Championship cycle highlights just how late India is arriving to the party. While every other competing nation has already embedded themselves deeply into the current schedule—with the West Indies having played 12 matches, and New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe each contesting nine—India remains the absolute last team to feature in this edition.
For Smriti Mandhana, who has officially taken the reins of leadership, the series represents a chance to start fresh. Mandhana already commenced her captaincy tenure on an encouraging note by steering the side to a clean 3-0 sweep over Zimbabwe in the preceding T20I leg. Alongside her, veteran stalwart Harmanpreet Kaur appears to have found a renewed sense of freedom in her game. Following a dazzling, unbeaten 91 off just 41 deliveries in the final T20 encounter, Kaur noted that she is eager to relish this post-captaincy phase of her career, playing without the heavy burden of leadership responsibilities that she carried for so long.
On the other side of the pitch, Zimbabwe arrives in India looking to build upon encouraging signs shown during the T20 internationals, despite that series ending in defeat. The visitors are also buoyed by the memory of a historic maiden ODI victory against the West Indies back in September. Having suffered eight defeats across their nine outings in the current Championship cycle, the touring side is eager to translate those sporadic breakthroughs into consistency and secure their first-ever victory on Indian soil.
Form guide
Heading into the opening clash, both teams carry contrasting momentum from their most recent 50-over assignments. India’s recent completed ODI form reads as three consecutive losses followed by two wins (LLLWW, most recent first), reflecting the challenges they faced during their challenging tour of Australia earlier this year. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s form guide across their last five completed ODIs stands at a win followed by four losses (LWLLL), underlining the uphill battle they face against higher-ranked opposition, though their historic triumph over the West Indies remains a testament to their competitive ceiling.
In the spotlight: Smriti Mandhana and Nyasha Gwanzura
If 2025 belonged to anyone in international women’s cricket, it undoubtedly belonged to Smriti Mandhana. The elegant left-handed opener piled up an astonishing 1,362 runs across 23 ODI appearances, lacing her calendar year with five centuries and five half-centuries. Her brief four-match stint as India’s captain prior to this series has also yielded ominous numbers for the opposition; she has scored 254 runs at a blistering strike rate of 149.41, converting her starts into a century and a fifty. Mandhana’s ability to seamlessly blend aggressive intent with anchoring responsibility will be central to India’s fortunes as she officially guides the team through this new cycle.
For Zimbabwe, attention will inevitably focus on offspin-bowling allrounder Nyasha Gwanzura. With only 16 ODI caps under her belt, Gwanzura has already proven her ability to perform on big stages. She picked up four wickets during the T20I series in Raipur—highlighted by a crafty three-wicket spell in which she famously accounted for both Mandhana and Shafali Verma. Furthermore, her dual contributions with bat and ball were instrumental in Zimbabwe’s stunning upset win over the West Indies in Harare, making her a key player to watch in the middle overs.
Team news and tactical combinations
India will be forced to make adjustments to their bowling attack, with premier fast bowler Renuka Singh ruled out of the series. According to team updates, Singh is still "building up the bowling volume required for the 50-over format," prompting the selection of Jintimani Kalita as her replacement. Beyond the forced change, the hosts may also consider handing a debut to young talent Nandani Sharma. Having claimed six wickets during the T20I series and impressing consistently since her international debut in May, Sharma has made a strong case for inclusion. Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma has also returned to the squad, leaving the team management with selection decisions to make regarding the final composition of the bowling unit.
India’s probable starting lineup features Pratika Rawal opening alongside captain Smriti Mandhana, followed by Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Harleen Deol in the middle order. The all-round stability will be provided by Deepti Sharma, with Richa Ghosh taking the wicketkeeping gloves. The bowling department is expected to feature Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma, Shree Charani, and a toss-up between Nandani Sharma and Sayali Satghare for the final spot.
Zimbabwe has experimented significantly with its squad rotations, frequently shifting players like Sharne Mayers between the top and middle order during their series against the West Indies. The touring side boasts a diverse bowling attack featuring seamers Nomvelo Sibanda, Francisca Chipare, Tendai Makusha, and Michelle Mavunga, alongside spin options like Olinder Chare, Nyasha Gwanzura, and Beloved Biza.
Zimbabwe’s probable playing XI includes Modester Mupachikwa behind the stumps, opening alongside Kelis Ndhlovu, with Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Beloved Biza, and captain Josephine Nkomo anchoring the middle order. Sharne Mayers or Chiyedza Dhururu are expected to fill the subsequent batting slots, supported by all-rounder Nyasha Gwanzura and a bowling core comprising Michelle Mavunga, Nomvelo Sibanda, Francisca Chipare, and either Olinder Chare or Tendai Makusha.
Pitch and conditions
The Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara brings back fond memories for the Indian team, who played their last ODI series at the venue in 2024 when they convincingly swept the West Indies 3-0. During that dominant home stretch, India posted imposing totals of 314 and 358 in the first two matches before successfully chasing down a modest target of 29 overs to seal the series.
Ground staff are expected to prepare another batting-friendly black-soil pitch, which should encourage stroke-making once batters settle in. Weather forecasts predict mostly sunny conditions in Vadodara, with daytime temperatures peaking at around 36 degrees Celsius. Dew is expected to become a factor during the second innings, potentially easing batting conditions under the lights as the evening breeze cools the stadium.
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