Smriti Mandhana Begins a New Chapter as India Captain
India’s women’s cricket team is preparing for a new leadership era under Smriti Mandhana, who has been appointed captain across all formats.
She takes over from Harmanpreet Kaur, who stepped down from the leadership role on October 6, 2026.
Mandhana will lead India in their upcoming home series against Zimbabwe Women.
The tour features three T20 Internationals followed by three One-Day Internationals.
It will also mark the first bilateral international series between the two teams.
India Announce T20I and ODI Squads
The selectors have announced separate squads for the T20I and ODI formats.
Shafali Verma will serve as vice-captain in the T20I team, while Deepti Sharma has been named ODI vice-captain.
Harmanpreet Kaur remains part of both squads despite giving up the captaincy.
Young players Niki Prasad and Jintimani Kalita feature in the T20I squad, while Nandni Sharma is included in the ODI team.
The selections provide opportunities for players to contribute in the new leadership setup.
Zimbabwe Series Schedule and Venues
The three-match T20I series will begin on October 16, 2026, in Raipur, with the remaining matches scheduled for October 18 and 20.
All three T20Is will be played at the same venue.
The teams will then travel to Vadodara for the ODI series, which starts on October 23.
The second and third ODIs will take place on October 25 and 28, respectively.
The series offers both sides an important opportunity to test their combinations and build momentum.
India Focus on Building for Future Challenges
The Zimbabwe tour gives Mandhana an opportunity to establish her leadership approach and strengthen team combinations.
India will look to maintain consistency while giving emerging players valuable international experience.
The series also forms part of the team’s preparations for the upcoming Women’s Champions Trophy, scheduled for early 2027.
Shafali Verma has highlighted the importance of combining fearless batting with smart decision-making.
India will aim to make the most of their home advantage throughout the six matches.