Raipur set to usher in Smriti Mandhana’s captaincy era as India face Zimbabwe

India are set to begin a new chapter under captain Smriti Mandhana as they take on Zimbabwe in their first-ever bilateral T20I series in Raipur. The opening match also marks the first international women’s cricket fixture to be hosted by the city, adding significance to the occasion.
India enter the series in excellent form after winning the Asia Cup and securing gold at the Asian Games. Mandhana’s appointment as captain comes at a high point in her career, with the experienced batter looking to balance her leadership responsibilities with her impressive performances at the top of the order.
The 30-year-old has previously led India in 18 T20Is, winning 11 of them. She has also demonstrated her leadership credentials in domestic cricket and the Women’s Premier League, guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru to two WPL titles. Her immediate challenge will be to maintain India’s winning momentum while preparing the team for future international competitions.
Shafali Verma, who has been appointed vice-captain, will be another key player to watch. She has been in outstanding form, recording scores of 64, 68, 40 not out, 100 not out and 48 in her last five T20I innings. Meanwhile, India must resolve their No. 3 batting position in the absence of Jemimah Rodrigues, who continues to recover from a hamstring injury. Anushka Sharma and Niki Prasad are among the options being considered.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, arrive after a challenging run in T20I cricket, having lost all 18 of their matches in the format this year. Their last victory came against Namibia in September 2025. However, the team will look to build on its historic first ODI win over West Indies in September and use this series as an opportunity to test itself against a strong Indian side.
Opener Kelis Ndhlovu will be central to Zimbabwe’s hopes. She has scored 320 runs in 18 T20Is this year and recently struck an impressive 63 off 48 balls against West Indies. Her performance at the top of the order could prove crucial if Zimbabwe are to challenge India.
India will also rely on their bowling strength, with N Shree Charani leading the T20I wicket-taking charts in 2026 with 47 wickets in 23 matches. The hosts have won eight consecutive T20Is since their defeat to Australia in June and will aim to extend that run under their new captain.
The Raipur surface is expected to favour batting, with Mandhana indicating that the pitch looks promising for stroke-making. With India’s strong recent form and Zimbabwe seeking a turnaround, the series opener presents an opportunity for Mandhana to make a winning start to her captaincy tenure.

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