Smriti Mandhana will lead India for the first time as a full-time captain. She takes charge in a three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. The series starts on Friday in Raipur. All matches will be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium. The series runs until October 20.
This is the first time India and Zimbabwe will meet in women’s international cricket. The series is also important preparation for India. They will play in the first Women’s Champions Trophy in India next February.
Mandhana was named captain after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down earlier this month. Harmanpreet is still part of the team as a player. Shafali Verma is the vice-captain for this T20I series.
Mandhana has captained India in 18 T20Is before. She has won 11, lost 6, and had one no-result. She also led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to two Women’s Premier League titles, in 2024 and 2026.
Zimbabwe are led by Josephine Nkomo. They recently beat the West Indies in a women’s ODI for the first time. That match was in Harare last month.
After the T20Is, India and Zimbabwe will play three ODIs. Those matches will be at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. The ODI series begins on October 23. Fans in India can watch the T20I series on JioHotstar for live streaming. The matches will also be shown on Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 Hindi.
India Squad: Smriti Mandhana (captain), Shafali Verma (vice-captain), Niki Prasad, Harmanpreet Kaur, Anushka Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), G Kamalini (wicketkeeper), Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Sree Charani, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Jintimani Kalita, and Minnu Mani.
Zimbabwe Squad: Josephine Nkomo (captain), Beloved Biza, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Kelis Ndhlovu, Michelle Mavunga, Francisca Chipare, Olinder Chare, Kudzai Chigora, Nyasha Gwanzura, Nomvelo Sibanda, Loryn Phiri, Chiyedza Dhururu, Modester Mupachikwa, Tendai Makusha, and Sharne Mayers.
…Outlines Captaincy Vision as India Target World Titles and No. 1 Ranking in All Formats
Smriti Mandhana is now the full-time captain of the Indian women’s cricket team. Her first series in charge is against Zimbabwe, starting Friday. She takes over from Harmanpreet Kaur.
Mandhana spoke to BCCI TV about her vision as captain. She said one of her main goals is to bring a culture of professionalism. She wants this in every area, from training to recovery. She said the culture already exists in some ways. But she wants to refine it and make it a team-wide culture. She said a captain should create a culture that stays strong even after they leave.
Mandhana also shared her long-term goals. She wants India to win World Cups and major championships. She wants the team to become No. 1 in all formats. India have been ranked No. 3 for the last four or five years. She said that shows how far the team has come. But she wants to leave Indian cricket at the top when her career ends.
However, she does not want to put too much pressure on herself right now. She prefers to focus on small changes. She believes those small changes will lead to the bigger goals.
Mandhana gave credit to her time as captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the WPL. She said the WPL helped her grow as a leader. It taught her how to build a team and plan for auctions. It also taught her to have a clear vision and stick to it. She said she will use that experience to build the Indian team.
Mandhana described herself as a calm captain. She said she can put an arm around someone’s shoulder when needed. But she can also tell players how to improve. She called herself a player’s captain. She wants everyone in the team to take on leadership roles.
She also spoke about how she has changed. She said she understands players better now. Earlier, she thought everyone approached the game the same way she did. She has learned that everyone has a different intent and way of doing things. She lets players grow in their own roles and make their own mistakes. She has learned when and what to say to get the best out of the team.
FAQs
Q. When will Smriti Mandhana begin her first series as captain?
A. Mandhana will lead India in the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe.
Q. Who is the vice-captain for India’s T20I series against Zimbabwe?
A. Shafali Verma is India’s vice-captain for the series.
Q. What are Smriti Mandhana’s main goals as India captain?
A. Mandhana wants to build a professional team culture and help India win World Cups and major championships.
Q. Where can fans watch the India vs Zimbabwe women’s T20I series?
A. Fans can stream the matches on JioHotstar or watch them on Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 Hindi.
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