India's Zimbabwe Squads Revealed: Who Made the Cut?

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India's women's squads for the Zimbabwe series are out! Smriti Mandhana leads, Niki Prasad and Nandani Sharma earn call-ups, while some big names miss out. Get the full squad details and schedule here.

The BCCI just dropped a bombshell. India's women's squads for the upcoming home series against Zimbabwe are out, and there are some serious surprises. Smriti Mandhana takes charge as full-time captain for the first time, and she's got a mix of fresh faces and seasoned veterans by her side. Harmanpreet Kaur, who stepped down as captain across formats earlier the same day, isn't going anywhere. She's still in both the T20I and ODI squads, bringing her wealth of experience to the table. The series itself? Three T20Is in Raipur from October 16 to 20, followed by three ODIs in Vadodara from October 23 to 28. Mark your calendars. ### The T20I Squad: New Blood and Big Omissions Niki Prasad and Jintimani Kalita are the new kids on the block. Prasad, who led India to the Under-19 World Cup title in Malaysia in 2025, is on the verge of her senior debut. She's been in stellar form for India A, smashing an unbeaten 54 in a T20 and 76 off 71 balls in a one-dayer, plus taking four wickets. In the four-day match, she scored 91 and grabbed seven wickets, including a five-for. That's some serious all-round talent. Kalita's inclusion raised a few eyebrows. She didn't exactly set the stage on fire during the A tour of England or against Australia A, but the selectors see something in her. Four players from the Asian Games gold-winning T20I squad are out: Bharti Fulmali, Shreyanka Patil, Renuka Singh, and Radha Yadav. Minnu Mani and Anushka Sharma join Prasad and Kalita as replacements. Shafali Verma will be Mandhana's deputy in T20Is. Here's the full T20I squad: - Smriti Mandhana (capt) - Shafali Verma (vice-capt) - Niki Prasad - Harmanpreet Kaur - Anushka Sharma - Richa Ghosh (wk) - G Kamalini (wk) - Deepti Sharma - Prema Rawat - N Shree Charani - Nandani Sharma - Kranti Gaud - Arundhati Reddy - Jintimani Kalita - Minnu Mani ### ODI Squad: Nandani Sharma Gets Maiden Call-Up The ODI squad looks quite different from the last time India played the format in Australia earlier this year. G Kamalini, Jemimah Rodrigues, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, and Kashvee Gautam are all missing. Rodrigues is still recovering from a high-grade right hamstring tear she suffered while playing for Southern Brave in The Hundred. That injury also kept her out of the Asian Games. The new faces? Tejal Hasabnis, Yastika Bhatia, Vaishnavi Sharma, Nandani Sharma, and Sayali Satghare. Nandani Sharma is one to watch. She already has T20I caps and was part of the Asian Games gold-winning side. She impressed at the Women's T20 Asia Cup in Dubai and is considered one of India's most promising fast-bowling prospects. Deepti Sharma will be the vice-captain for the ODIs. Here's the full ODI squad: - Smriti Mandhana (capt) - Shafali Verma - Pratika Rawal - Harmanpreet Kaur - Harleen Deol - Tejal Hasabnis - Deepti Sharma (vice-capt) - Richa Ghosh (wk) - Yastika Bhatia (wk) - Vaishnavi Sharma - Nandani Sharma - N Shree Charani - Kranti Gaud - Sayali Satghare - Renuka Singh ### What This Means for India's Future This series is a golden opportunity for the newcomers to prove themselves. With Mandhana at the helm, India is clearly looking to build a team for the future while keeping experienced heads around. The selectors have shown they're not afraid to make tough calls, dropping established names and giving youth a chance. It's a bold move that could pay off big time. Keep an eye on Niki Prasad and Nandani Sharma. They could be the next big things in Indian women's cricket. For more cricket news and updates, visit JeetWin Blog.