India Women's Zimbabwe Squads: Niki Prasad's Stunning Rise

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-07

The BCCI has announced India's women's squads for the upcoming home series against Zimbabwe, and there's a lot to unpack. Smriti Mandhana will lead the white-ball sides for the first time as full-time captain, taking over from Harmanpreet Kaur, who stepped down earlier the same day. But the bigger story? A couple of fresh faces that could signal a new era for Indian women's cricket. Niki Prasad and Jintimani Kalita are the new names in the T20I squad, while Nandani Sharma has earned her first ODI call-up. These aren't just filler selections—they're statements. Let's break down what this means. ### India vs Zimbabwe Women's Series Schedule The tour kicks off with three T20Is in Raipur, starting October 16, followed by matches on October 18 and 20. Then the action shifts to Vadodara for three ODIs on October 23, 25, and 28. All six games will be crucial for India as they build towards future ICC events. ### India Women T20I Squad: Prasad and Kalita Join the Group Niki Prasad is a name you'll want to remember. 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 A series against Australia A, she showed her all-round prowess: an unbeaten 54 in the second T20, a 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, including a five-wicket haul. That's the kind of impact that gets you noticed. Jintimani Kalita's inclusion, though, raised a few eyebrows. 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 clearly see something in her—perhaps her raw pace or potential. Four players from the Asian Games gold-winning T20I squad have been dropped: Bharti Fulmali, Shreyanka Patil, Renuka Singh, and Radha Yadav. In their place, Minnu Mani and Anushka Sharma join Prasad and Kalita. Shafali Verma has been named vice-captain for the T20Is. **India Women 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. ### India Women ODI Squad: Nandani Sharma Added, Deepti Named Vice-Captain The ODI squad sees even more changes. When India last played the format in Australia earlier this year, G Kamalini, Jemimah Rodrigues, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, and Kashvee Gautam were all in the mix. None of them feature this time. Rodrigues has been sidelined with a high-grade right hamstring tear since playing for Southern Brave in the women's Hundred. That injury also kept her out of the Asian Games. In her absence, Tejal Hasabnis, Yastika Bhatia, Vaishnavi Sharma, Nandani Sharma, and Sayali Satghare get their chances. Nandani Sharma is particularly exciting. 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 in August-September, which India won, and has been one of the country's most promising fast-bowling prospects in recent times. Deepti Sharma will serve as vice-captain in the ODIs. **India Women 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 These selections signal a clear shift towards youth and versatility. With Mandhana at the helm and new talents emerging, India is building depth ahead of major tournaments. The Zimbabwe series might seem low-stakes, but it's a vital opportunity for these newcomers to prove they belong. Keep an eye on Niki Prasad—she could be the next big thing in Indian women's cricket.