Deepti Sharma’s 49 and debutant Niki Prasad’s unbeaten 39 added 82 for the fifth wicket as India Women chased 115 against Zimbabwe in Raipur, recovering from four early wickets to win the first T20I by four wickets and take a 1-0 lead.
Raipur, India: The chase was meant to be routine. Zimbabwe had posted only 114, and India’s line-up was full of experience. Instead, Nyasha Gwanzura’s off-spin sent the top order back in a hurry on Friday evening at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, and it took a veteran and a debutant to rescue the night.
A total built on two innings
Zimbabwe finished on 114 for 5 in their 20 overs. Kelis Ndhlovu made 42 and Sharne Mayers stayed unbeaten on 43, and between them they gave the innings the only real shape it had. India’s attack shared the wickets: Nandani Sharma returned 2 for 11, while Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy and Shree Charani took one apiece. It was a modest target, but it was enough to make India work.
Four down inside the powerplay
Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Anushka Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur all fell early, with Gwanzura troubling the top order throughout. India, chasing 115, suddenly had four wickets down and a middle order left to repair the damage. For a few overs, Zimbabwe had the better of the contest.
Deepti and Prasad turn it around
Deepti Sharma and Niki Prasad, playing her first international, then added 82 for the fifth wicket. Deepti scored 49 off 37 balls, one short of a half-century. She said afterwards that she should have finished the chase herself once she was close, and that she would not repeat the mistake. Prasad stayed calm, finished unbeaten on 39 and hit the winning boundary. Deepti said the debutant looked as if she had played many games for India.
India got home on 116 for 6 in 15.4 overs, with 26 balls to spare.
A first win for Mandhana’s India
The win gives India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, the first assignment for new captain Smriti Mandhana, who was named to lead the squads after Harmanpreet stepped down. The second T20I is in Raipur on October 18, followed by the third on October 20. Three ODIs follow in Vadodara on October 23, 25 and 28.
Result: India Women 116/6 (15.4 overs) beat Zimbabwe Women 114/5 (20 overs) by four wickets.
Match: 1st T20I, Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, Raipur, Friday 16 October 2026. India lead the three-match series 1-0.
Key performers: Deepti Sharma 49 (37 balls), Niki Prasad 39*; Kelis Ndhlovu 42, Sharne Mayers 43* for Zimbabwe; Nandani Sharma 2/11.
