India Women's Zimbabwe Squads: New Captain, New Faces, One Bold Gamble

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-07

The BCCI just dropped India's women's squads for the home series against Zimbabwe, and let me tell you, there's a lot to unpack here. Smriti Mandhana takes charge as full-time captain for the first time, and she's got some fresh faces alongside her. Niki Prasad and Jintimani Kalita are the new names in the T20I squad, while Nandani Sharma has earned her first ODI call-up. Meanwhile, Harmanpreet Kaur, who stepped down as captain across formats earlier the same day, remains in both 15-member squads. Talk about a transition period, right? ### So, What's the Schedule Look Like? The series kicks off with three T20Is in Raipur, starting October 16. The next two matches follow on October 18 and October 20. Then it's off to Vadodara for three ODIs: October 23, October 25, and the final on October 28. Short tour, but packed with action. ### T20I Squad: Prasad and Kalita Join the Mix Niki Prasad is someone to watch. She captained India to the Under-19 World Cup title in Malaysia in 2025 and now stands on the verge of her senior debut. In the recent series against Australia A, she showed she can do it all: an unbeaten 54 in the second T20, 76 off 71 balls in the third one-dayer, plus four wickets. And in the four-day match? She scored 91 in the first innings and took seven wickets for 77 runs across the game, including a five-wicket haul in the second innings. That's the kind of all-round performance that turns heads. Jintimani Kalita's inclusion, though, came out of nowhere. She didn't pick up many wickets on the A tour of England in June-July, and her returns against Australia A at home were similar. But the selectors see something, so let's see if she can prove them right. Four players from the Asian Games gold-winning T20I squad have dropped out: Bharti Fulmali, Shreyanka Patil, Renuka Singh, and Radha Yadav. Minnu Mani and Anushka Sharma come in alongside Prasad and Kalita. Shafali Verma has been named vice-captain for the 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 In, Deepti Named Vice-Captain The ODI squad sees even more changes. Compared to the last ODI series in Australia earlier this year, five players from that group are missing: G Kamalini, Jemimah Rodrigues, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, and Kashvee Gautam. Jemimah Rodrigues has been out with a high-grade right hamstring tear she suffered playing for Southern Brave in the women's Hundred. That injury also kept her out of the Asian Games. Tough break for her. In come Tejal Hasabnis, Yastika Bhatia, Vaishnavi Sharma, Nandani Sharma, and Sayali Satghare. Nandani already has T20I caps and was part of the Asian Games gold-winning side. She also performed well at the women's T20 Asia Cup in Dubai, which India won. She's been one of the most promising fast-bowling prospects in the country lately. Deepti Sharma will serve as vice-captain in 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 Does This Mean for India? This series feels like a turning point. With Mandhana at the helm and new talent getting a shot, India is clearly building toward the future. The selectors are taking some calculated risks—some might say bold gambles—but that's how you find the next generation of stars. Zimbabwe might not be the toughest opponent, but these matches will be crucial for settling combinations and giving newcomers international exposure. Keep an eye on Niki Prasad. She could be the next big thing in Indian women's cricket. And with Mandhana leading, the team has a calm, experienced head at the top. It's an exciting time to be a fan.