Sports · Cricket · 8 hrs ago
India Beat Zimbabwe by Four Wickets in Mandhana’s Captaincy Debut
India beat Zimbabwe by four wickets in the first match of their three-game women’s T20 series in Raipur.
It was Smriti Mandhana’s first match as India captain.
Zimbabwe made 114 for five after India’s bowlers slowed their scoring, with Kelis Ndhlovu making 42 and Sharne Mayers 43 not out.
India fell to 19 for four while chasing, after Zimbabwe spinner Nyasha Gwanzura took three wickets in the powerplay.
Debutant Niki Prasad and Deepti Sharma added 82 runs to steady the chase.
Deepti scored 49, while Prasad stayed unbeaten on 39 and hit the winning runs as India reached 116 for six in 15.4 overs.
The win gives India an early lead in the three-match series, with the remaining matches still to come.
India beat Zimbabwe by four wickets in the first Women’s T20I at Raipur.
India reached 116/6 in 15.4 overs while chasing Zimbabwe’s 115-run target.
Debutant Niki Prasad and Deepti Sharma shared an 82-run partnership after India fell to 19/4.
Prasad finished unbeaten on 39, while Sharma scored 49.
The match was Smriti Mandhana’s first as India’s full-time captain.
- Who
- India and Zimbabwe’s women’s cricket teams.
- What
- India won the first Women’s T20I by four wickets.
- When
- October 16, 2026.
- Where
- Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, India.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Zimbabwe made 114/5 in 20 overs after being asked to bat.
India fell to 19/4 as Nyasha Gwanzura took three wickets.
Niki Prasad and Deepti Sharma added 82 runs for the fifth wicket.
India reached 116/6 and won by four wickets.
- Match
- First Women’s T20I of the series
- Venue
- Raipur, India
- Zimbabwe total
- 114/5 in 20 overs
- India total
- 116/6 in 15.4 overs
- India partnership
- Niki Prasad and Deepti Sharma added 82 runs
- Winning margin
- Four wickets
12 sources
India Mark Smriti Mandhana's Captaincy Debut With Nervy 4-Wicket Win Over Zimbabwe
'We Didn't Play The Way We Wanted': Smriti Mandhana After India Survive Zimbabwe Scare
Stingy with ball, serene with bat: Deepti Sharma fashions nervy win
Niki Prasad shines on debut as India overcome Zimbabwe
First T20I: Deepti Sharma, Niki Prasad steer India home against Zimbabwe
Deepti, debutant Niki rescue India after top-order collapse against Zimbabwe
Ice-cool Niki Prasad impresses on debut as India survive Zimbabwe scare
Who Is Niki Prasad, India's 20-Year-Old Debutant?
What people are saying
I think I was well-prepared. I knew that when I walked in, my job was simply to take the game deep and see it through, and that’s exactly what I focused on out in the middle