Mandhana's First Squad: The Bold Calls Reshaping India Women

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Smriti Mandhana's first series as full-time captain sees Niki Prasad and Jintimani Kalita in the T20I squad, while Nandani Sharma earns her maiden ODI call-up. Get the full squad breakdown and schedule.

### A New Era Begins with Mandhana at the Helm Smriti Mandhana has officially taken the reins as full-time captain of India's women's white-ball teams, and her first assignment is a home series against Zimbabwe. But this isn't just about one series—it's a glimpse into the future of Indian women's cricket. The squads she'll lead feature fresh faces and a few surprising omissions that have fans talking. ### The Series at a Glance - **T20Is:** October 16, 18, and 20 in Raipur - **ODIs:** October 23, 25, and 28 in Vadodara All six matches will be played over a 12-day span, giving the new-look squads plenty of opportunities to gel. ### T20I Squad: Prasad and Kalita Get the Nod The biggest news? Niki Prasad and Jintimani Kalita are in. Prasad, who captained India to the Under-19 World Cup title in Malaysia earlier this year, is on the verge of her senior debut. She's been in red-hot form for India A, smashing an unbeaten 54 in a T20 and a gritty 76 off 71 balls in a one-dayer, plus a five-wicket haul in the four-day game. Kalita's inclusion raised a few eyebrows—she didn't set the stage alight on the A tour of England—but the selectors clearly see something special. Four players from the Asian Games gold-winning T20I squad miss out: Bharti Fulmali, Shreyanka Patil, Renuka Singh, and Radha Yadav. In their place, Minnu Mani and Anushka Sharma join Prasad and Kalita. Shafali Verma will serve as vice-captain. **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. ### ODI Squad: Nandani Sharma Earns Maiden Call-Up The ODI side looks quite different from the one that toured Australia in February-March. Gone are G Kamalini, Jemimah Rodrigues, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, and Kashvee Gautam. Jemimah's absence is injury-related—she's been sidelined with a high-grade hamstring tear since the Hundred. The five new faces are Tejal Hasabnis, Yastika Bhatia, Vaishnavi Sharma, Nandani Sharma, and Sayali Satghare. Nandani Sharma is particularly exciting. She's already played T20Is and was part of the Asian Games gold-winning side. Her performances in the T20 Asia Cup in Dubai and the Asian Games have marked her as one of India's most promising fast-bowling prospects. Deepti Sharma will be her deputy. **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 the Future With Harmanpreet Kaur stepping down as captain but staying in both squads, this series is a bridge between eras. Mandhana's leadership will be tested, and the newcomers have a golden chance to stake their claim. The selectors are clearly building depth, and with the ODI World Cup on the horizon, every match counts. The Zimbabwe series might look like a mismatch on paper, but for these players, it's a proving ground. Keep an eye on Niki Prasad—she could be the next big thing. > "This is a transition phase, and we're excited to see how the new faces handle the pressure." — A senior BCCI official For more cricket news and updates, visit JeetWin Blog!

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