India's New-Look Squads for Zimbabwe: Mandhana's First Test as Captain

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-07

The BCCI has just dropped a bombshell for Indian women's cricket fans. Smriti Mandhana is taking over as full-time captain for the white-ball series against Zimbabwe, and she's doing it with a fresh-looking squad that's got everyone talking. This is her first real test at the helm, and she's wasting no time putting her stamp on the team. The series itself is a quick-fire affair: three T20Is in Raipur from October 16 to 20, then three ODIs in Vadodara from October 23 to 28. It's a tight schedule, but it gives us a great chance to see what this new-look India side is made of. ### The T20I Squad: New Faces, Big Opportunities Niki Prasad and Jintimani Kalita are the fresh names in the T20I squad, and both have earned their spots through sheer hard work. Prasad, in particular, is one to watch. She captained India to the Under-19 World Cup title in Malaysia in 2025 and has been piling on the runs and wickets for India A. In a recent series against Australia A, she scored an unbeaten 54 in one T20, smashed 76 off 71 balls in an ODI, and even took seven wickets in a four-day game. That's the kind of all-round performance that gets you noticed. Kalita's inclusion might raise a few eyebrows, though. She didn't have the most productive tour of England with the A team, and her returns against Australia A were modest. But the selectors clearly see something in her, and this series is her chance to prove them right. Meanwhile, four players from the Asian Games gold-winning T20I squad – Bharti Fulmali, Shreyanka Patil, Renuka Singh, and Radha Yadav – have been left out. Minnu Mani and Anushka Sharma come in as replacements, adding fresh energy to the group. Shafali Verma will serve as vice-captain for the T20Is, a role that suits her aggressive style. ### The ODI Squad: A Bigger Shake-Up The ODI squad has seen even more changes. Five players from the last ODI series in Australia – G Kamalini, Jemimah Rodrigues, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, and Kashvee Gautam – are missing. Rodrigues is still recovering from a hamstring injury she picked up playing for Southern Brave in The Hundred, which also kept her out of the Asian Games. In their place, we have Tejal Hasabnis, Yastika Bhatia, Vaishnavi Sharma, Nandani Sharma, and Sayali Satghare. Nandani Sharma is particularly exciting – she's already played T20Is, was part of the Asian Games gold-winning side, and has been one of India's most promising fast bowlers. She's earned her first ODI call-up, and it's well-deserved. Deepti Sharma will be Mandhana's deputy in the ODIs, bringing her wealth of experience to the leadership group. ### What This Means for India's Future This series isn't just about beating Zimbabwe – it's about building for the future. With Harmanpreet Kaur stepping down as captain but still in both squads, there's a nice blend of youth and experience. Mandhana's captaincy will be under the microscope, but she's got the talent and the temperament to succeed. The selectors are clearly looking ahead to bigger tournaments, and these new faces have a golden opportunity to make their mark. Will Niki Prasad become the next big thing? Can Nandani Sharma translate her T20 form to ODIs? We'll find out soon enough. One thing's for sure: Indian women's cricket is entering an exciting new era, and this series against Zimbabwe is just the beginning. For more cricket news and updates, keep an eye on our blog.