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RESULTT20I1st T20I · Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur
Zimbabwe Women vs India Women
India Women won by 4 wkts
India Women won the toss and chose to bowl
- Match
- Zimbabwe Women vs India Women, 1st T20I
- Date
- 16 Oct 2026
- Start
- 19:00 IST · 13:30 GMT
- Venue
- Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur
- Toss
- India Women won the toss and chose to bowl
Venue guide
- Capacity
- 65,000
- Opened
- 2008
- Ends
- North End, South End
- Home to
- Delhi Daredevils, Chhattisgarh
- Floodlights
- Yes
| Deepti SharmaIndia Women · All-rounder | 49 (37)Bat · R (B) | 84s | 06s | 132.4SR | c Sharne Mayers b Olinder ChareOut | 4.0-0-22-0Bowl · O-M-R-W | 5.50Econ |
ZIMWZimbabwe Women 114/5 (20.0)
INDWIndia Women 116/6 (15.4)
RUNS PER OVER
SCORE BY OVER
Final overs
Full commentary- India may have crossed the finish line with more than four overs to spare, but make no mistake, this was far from a straightforward chase. The way Nyasha Gwanzura and Michelle Mavunga came out firing in the second innings had India under genuine pressure, and for a while, it looked like Zimbabwe were on the verge of pulling off something special. But it wasn’t to be! Smriti Mandhana’s tenure gets off to a winning start, but India will know there are areas to work on as they continue their preparations for the Champions Trophy. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, have made it clear that they can't be taken lightly, and India will need to be on their toes in the remaining games. We will be back on Sunday for the second T20I. Until then, it’s good night and goodbye from all of us at Cricbuzz. Take care, and we will see you soon!
- Deepti Sharma | Player of the Match: [How pleased are you?] I'm really pleased because I am used to these kind of situations, and I'm glad that I could bat little early in the powerplay. My mindset was that I have to finish the game, and that's how me and Niki were playing. [What was your mindset behind those attacking shots early in your innings?] I had a clear (plan) that I have to play a few shots early when it's in my radar. So I calculated according to that, and my mindset is pretty simple that I have to play in my areas. [How much has franchise cricket helped you develop your game?] Pretty much helped me. WPL, the Hundred and all that stuff helped me to bat little early and assess the condition well while chasing. And when you are mentally ready, you can adapt (to) the situations, and that's how I do it.
- Smriti Mandhana (2/2): [When you face an unfamiliar opponent like Zimbabwe for the very first time, how do you prepare, execute, and learn as you go?] Credit to Zimbabwe, their batters definitely played some quality cricketing shots out there. Playing against an unknown opposition can be tricky because you don't fully know what to expect. But I thought the way we adapted towards the back end by using slower variations worked really well for us. We did prepare and plan against them beforehand, but watching video footage and facing them live are two completely different things. [What was it like batting alongside someone with as much experience as Deepti Sharma?] She played brilliantly. The way she took the attack to the bowlers meant she never allowed them to settle or dominate. Watching her bat with that intent gave me a lot of confidence to play my own shots at the other end.
- Smriti Mandhana | India captain: (1/2) [Congratulations on the win! It was a close game, how do you look back at the team's performance today?] Process-wise, we might not have played the exact way we wanted as a team, but nevertheless, a win is a win. We have a few standout performances to appreciate: Nandani Sharma bowled extremely well, Niki Prasad showed remarkable composure on her debut, and Deepti Sharma, well, she's been doing this for a very long time; she's a true legend of the game. We’re really happy to get the win, but there are definitely plenty of takeaways and areas for us to work on as a group. [What are the top one or two things you’d want to address in the dressing room first as captain?] I've actually already addressed those points in the dressing room! Once we get going, people will start seeing the results in due time for sure. I wouldn't really want to disclose those specifics right now, but we've definitely had conversations around them. On a positive note, I thought our intensity on the field today, especially with Smriti and Niki throwing themselves around was a massive plus for us.
- Josephine Nkomo | Zimbabwe captain: [How impressed were you with the bowling and fielding?] I was very impressed by our bowling and our fighting spirits to have India 19/4 in the powerplay. I'll take that any day. [What helped your bowlers put India on the back foot early?] I think we just kept everything simple, just started bowling a good line and length, and then just backed ourselves with the (fielding) as well. [What will you address ahead of the next game?] I think we just need to work on our dot ball percentage. We had quite a lot of dot balls, so if we just convert those into more singles and twos, I think we'll be good to go.
- Niki 2/2: [How were the conditions out there? Was there a lot of dew, and did it make batting any easier?] There was definitely a lot of dew, which made the ball travel much faster off the bat. At the same time, the pitch started slowing down a bit and keeping slightly low, but Deepti and I adapted well to the conditions. [Besides securing the win, it's a dream debut for you! What stands out as the most satisfying aspect of today for you personally?] I'm really happy that I was able to see the game through and build that crucial partnership with Deepti. This is just the start, and I want to keep playing the same way and contribute more and more to the Indian team going forward.
- Niki Prasad 1/2: [Walk us through your mindset coming into this game. You looked so composed out there]. I think I was well-prepared. I knew that when I walked in, my job was simply to take the game deep and see it through, and that's exactly what I focused on out in the middle. [India were struggling at 19 for 4 when you and Deepti Sharma came together. What was the conversation between you two at that stage?] We were just focused on building a partnership. Once we got going and stabilized the innings, we started discussing which bowlers to target and where we could take calculated risks. [You’ve already built a reputation for delivering under immense pressure. What’s the secret behind staying so cool?] Nothing special, really, just staying calm and playing each ball on its merit.
- Stats by Roshan Gede
- Most consecutive defeats in Women’s T20Is 26 - Eswatini-W (September 2021 - July 2025) 26 - Mongolia-W (September 2023 - June 2026) 21* - Zimbabwe-W (October 2025 - October 2026) 20 - Bulgaria-W (October 2024 - June 2026) 20 - Lesotho-W (August 2018 - July 2025) India have extended their winning streak to nine matches, their longest in the format, followed by seven between September 2018 and November 2018.
- Highest 5th wicket stands from 4 down 159 - Sophie Devine, Maddy Green (NZ-W) vs ENG-W, Canterbury, 2026 82 - Niki Prasad, Deepti Sharma (IND-W) vs ZIM-W, Raipur, 2026 72 - Deandra Dottin, Stacy-Ann King (WI-W) vs SA-W, Durban, 2016 67 - Amy Jones, Heather Knight (ENG-W) vs PAK-W, Edgbaston, 2024 64 - Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge (ENG-W) vs AUS-W, North Sydney, 2017 *full-member teams
- Highest individual scores on T20I debut for IND-W 66* - Rumeli Dhar vs ENG-W, Derby, 2006 41* - Amanjot Kaur vs SA-W, KuGumpo City, 2023 39* - Niki Prasad vs ZIM-W, Raipur, 2026 39 - Smriti Mandhana vs BAN-W, Vadodara, 2013 37 - Jemimah Rodrigues vs SA-W, Potchefstroom, 2018
- Highest stands for 5th wicket or lower for IND-W in T20Is 82 - Niki Prasad, Deepti Sharma vs ZIM-W, Raipur, 2026 77 - Mithali Raj, Anuja Patil vs SL-W, Ranchi, 2016 76 - Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur vs SA-W, KuGumpo City, 2023 75 - Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh vs UAE-W, Dambulla, 2024 70* - Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues vs Barbados-W, Edgbaston, 2022 *the first two came in successful chases
- 22:05 Local Time, 16:35 GMT, 22:05 IST: That was quite the scare for Smriti Mandhana in her first outing as India’s full-time captain! There were plenty of anxious faces in the Indian camp as Nyasha Gwanzura and Michelle Mavunga ripped through the top order, leaving India reeling at 19/4 in a modest chase of 115. Just when Zimbabwe threatened to pull off a stunning upset, debutant Niki Prasad and seasoned campaigner Deepti Sharma stepped up to steady the ship and steer India away from what could have been an embarrassing defeat. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Anushka Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur were guilty of being a touch reckless, with all four back in the hut within the first 19 deliveries of the innings. But that’s when Deepti and Niki stepped up, displaying outstanding composure and game awareness to stitch together a match-defining partnership. Their 82-run stand off 63 deliveries extinguished Zimbabwe’s hopes and brought smiles back to the Indian dugout. Deepti fell agonisingly short of a half-century, but Niki stayed right till the very end, remaining unbeaten on 39 and leaving the crease only after completing the job. The Indian players are all smiles, a stark contrast to the nerves that crept in after Zimbabwe’s strong start to the second innings. But as they say, all’s well that ends well!
- Over 16 · 5 runs (1 0 0 4)
- 15.44Tendai Makusha to Niki Prasad, FOUR, and that’s that! Fittingly, debutant Niki Prasad has the final say, capping off a memorable first outing with a stylish front-foot drive to the right of mid-off. What a knock to announce herself on the international stage! She has held her nerve, finished the job in style, and India take a 1-0 lead in the series
- 15.3•Tendai Makusha to Niki Prasad, no run, some width on offer and Niki Prasad finds the fielder at point on a cut
- 15.2•Tendai Makusha to Niki Prasad, no run, guess that's inside the revised red guideline on the leg side, Niki Prasad misses on a clip and the umpire says it's not a wide
- 15.11Tendai Makusha to Arundhati Reddy, 1 run, sort of rushes Arundhati Reddy with a skiddy length, Arundhati Reddy somehow brings the bat down and gets an inside edge that rolls to fine leg
- Tendai Makusha [1.0-0-14-0] is back into the attack
- End of over 15 · 8 runs (1 0 6 0 W 1) · 1 wktINDW 111/6Arundhati Reddy 1(1) · Niki Prasad 35(32) · Beloved Biza 4-0-27-1
- 14.61Beloved Biza to Arundhati Reddy, 1 run, 76.9kph, pushes it a bit quicker - fullish on the pads. Arundhati Reddy sweeps it along the carpet to deep square leg. Just 4 needed now
- Arundhati Reddy, right handed bat, comes to the crease
- 14.5WBeloved Biza to Richa Ghosh, out Caught by Nyasha Gwanzura!! In the air, and taken at deep mid-wicket! Zimbabwe have caught well tonight. Floated up on off stump, and Richa Ghosh goes for the slog sweep but gets a thick top edge that balloons high into the night sky. The fielder moves a few steps in, has ample time to settle underneath it, and takes it safely. Richa Ghosh c Nyasha Gwanzura b Beloved Biza 7(5) [6s-1]
- Beloved Biza to Richa Ghosh, THATS OUT!! Caught!!
- 14.4•Beloved Biza to Richa Ghosh, no run, pulls her length back and Richa Ghosh is stuck in the crease, ends up inside edging it onto the pads
- 14.36Beloved Biza to Richa Ghosh, SIX, there you go! This is what she can do! Gets the length, right under her bat and clears her front leg to launch it down the ground for a towering six
- 14.2•Beloved Biza to Richa Ghosh, no run, some extra bounce there from the length around off, Richa Ghosh shapes for a cut but doesn't make the connection
- 14.11Beloved Biza to Niki Prasad, 1 run, rocks back for this length delivery and knocks it to long on for a single
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelis Ndhlovub Arundhati Reddy | 42 | 44 | 6 | 0 | 95.5 |
| Beloved Bizalbw b Kranti Gaud | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Modester Mupachikwac & b Shree Charani | 16 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 61.5 |
| Sharne Mayers*not out | 43 | 33 | 4 | 2 | 130.3 |
| Nyasha Gwanzurast Richa Ghosh b Nandani Sharma | 9 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 81.8 |
| Michelle Mavungast Richa Ghosh b Nandani Sharma | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano*not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0 |
Extras3 (b 0, lb 1, w 2, nb 0)
Total114/5 (20.0 ov, RR 5.70)
Did not bat: Francisca Chipare, Josephine Nkomo, Olinder Chare, Tendai Makusha
Fall of wickets: 7-1 (Beloved Biza, 1.0 ov), 60-2 (Modester Mupachikwa, 10.2 ov), 82-3 (Kelis Ndhlovu, 15.0 ov), 113-4 (Nyasha Gwanzura, 19.4 ov), 113-5 (Michelle Mavunga, 19.5 ov)
| Bowler · INDW | O | M | R | W | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kranti Gaud | 2 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 8.00 |
| Nandani Sharma | 4 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 2.75 |
| Shafali Verma | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 6.67 |
| Deepti Sharma | 4 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 5.50 |
| Arundhati Reddy | 3 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 10.00 |
| Shree Charani | 4 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 3.50 |
Zimbabwe Women- 1Kelis NdhlovuAll-rounder
- 2Beloved BizaAll-rounder
- 3Chipo Mugeri-TiripanoAll-rounder
- 4Sharne MayersBatter
- 5Michelle MavungaBatter
- 6Nyasha GwanzuraBatter
- 7Francisca ChipareAll-rounder
- 8Modester Mupachikwa(wk)Wicketkeeper
- 9Josephine Nkomo(c)All-rounder
- 10Olinder ChareBowler
- 11Tendai MakushaAll-rounder
Bench
India Women- 1Shafali VermaBatter
- 2Smriti Mandhana(c)Batter
- 3Anushka SharmaBatter
- 4Harmanpreet KaurAll-rounder
- 5Niki PrasadAll-rounder
- 6Richa Ghosh(wk)Wicketkeeper
- 7Deepti SharmaAll-rounder
- 8Shree CharaniBowler
- 9Arundhati ReddyAll-rounder
- 10Nandani SharmaBowler
- 11Kranti GaudBowler
Bench
- 15.44Tendai Makusha to Niki Prasad, FOUR, and that’s that! Fittingly, debutant Niki Prasad has the final say, capping off a memorable first outing with a stylish front-foot drive to the right of mid-off. What a knock to announce herself on the international stage! She has held her nerve, finished the job in style, and India take a 1-0 lead in the series
- 14.5WBeloved Biza to Richa Ghosh, out Caught by Nyasha Gwanzura!! In the air, and taken at deep mid-wicket! Zimbabwe have caught well tonight. Floated up on off stump, and Richa Ghosh goes for the slog sweep but gets a thick top edge that balloons high into the night sky. The fielder moves a few steps in, has ample time to settle underneath it, and takes it safely. Richa Ghosh c Nyasha Gwanzura b Beloved Biza 7(5) [6s-1]
- 14.36Beloved Biza to Richa Ghosh, SIX, there you go! This is what she can do! Gets the length, right under her bat and clears her front leg to launch it down the ground for a towering six
- 13.4WOlinder Chare to Deepti Sharma, out Caught by Mayers!! Oh no, you have got to feel for her! Just one short of her fifty! This was there to be put away. Another one sliding down the leg side, Deepti Sharma gets down on one knee and goes for the sweep, only to pick out the fielder at short fine leg. Seems to have come off the toe end of the bat, and the fielder completes a reverse-cup catch over her head. But what a knock under pressure! Walking in with India staring at a challenging situation, she has turned the tide with a sensational display of composure, class and experience. Deepti Sharma c Mayers b Olinder Chare 49(37) [4s-8]
- 12.5OTeam milestoneBeloved Biza to Niki Prasad, 1 run, ovecooks the flight and ends up bowling a full toss on the pads, Niki Prasad comes down the wicket and tucks it to deep mid-wicket
- 11.64Michelle Mavunga to Deepti Sharma, FOUR, moves to 47 with another authoritative shot! A lot of width on offer and Deepti Sharma cuts it fiercely past the point fielder for a boundary
- 11.44Michelle Mavunga to Deepti Sharma, FOUR, Deepti Sharma is putting on a show tonight! Plants her knee and slog sweeps this fullish delivery to the vacant deep mid-wicket region for another boundary
- 11.14Michelle Mavunga to Deepti Sharma, FOUR, nah, can't bowl that line with no one at deep mid-wicket! Fullish on the stumps as Deepti Sharma moves across and whips it for a boundary
- 10.34Beloved Biza to Niki Prasad, FOUR, slower and shorter outside off, Niki Prasad stays on the back foot for the cut and gets a thick edge to beat the keeper to her right and gets a boundary
- 9.54Olinder Chare to Deepti Sharma, FOUR, this time off the back foot, drags it short this time, Sharma stays back and punches it past the fielder to wide long-off, picked the gap to perfection!
- 9.44Olinder Chare to Deepti Sharma, FOUR, juicy full-toss on offer, easy pickings for Deepti and she kneels down and sweeps it to deep square leg, the partnership between Deepti Sharma and Niki Prasad is now 50
- 9.24Olinder Chare to Niki Prasad, FOUR, misses her radar and bowls it on the pads, Prasad was hanging back, just had to get some part of the bat on it and the ball raced away to fine leg fence
- 8.34Beloved Biza to Niki Prasad, FOUR, top shot and she is having a promising debut here, nothing wrong with the delivery, on a length and outside off, Prasad plays late and punches it through deep point region
- 7.4OTeam fiftyOlinder Chare to Deepti Sharma, 1 run, nicely tossed up from round the wicket, Deepti gets across the drives it to long-on
- 6.34Francisca Chipare to Niki Prasad, FOUR, excellent timing and placement on that occasion, allows the length ball to come into her, Niki walks down the track and times the drive to perfection and the placement was spot on well wide of the fielder. Shot of the day!
- 6.14Francisca Chipare to Niki Prasad, FOUR, she's found the gap, fraction shorter on middle, Prasad was hanging back, picked the length early and pulls it in the gap to deep mid-wicket
- 5.64Nyasha Gwanzura to Deepti Sharma, FOUR, well tossed up again, Deepti is equal to the task as she walks down and lofts it over mid-on, one bounce over the ropes, She ends the power-play on a high.
- 5.24Nyasha Gwanzura to Deepti Sharma, FOUR, she's gone down town! Tossed up on off, Deepti steps down the track and lofts it straight over the bowler's head, one bounce over the ropes
- 4.14Michelle Mavunga to Deepti Sharma, FOUR, that is a good hit from Deepti Sharma, slightly shorter and this one keeps a tad low, Deepti picked the length early and whips it over the in-field to deep square leg
- 3.1WNyasha Gwanzura to Shafali Verma, out Caught&Bowled!! Now the dangerous Shafali departs, India are struggling here. Fired in full on off, Verma drives it towards the right of the bowler, who dives well to her right and clings on to a sharp catch. India are tottering at 19/4 and who would have thought of this. Shafali Verma c and b Nyasha Gwanzura 4(2) [4s-1]
- 2.2WMichelle Mavunga to Harmanpreet Kaur, out Caught by Nyasha Gwanzura!! What is happening here? India are losing wickets in a heap. It was a poor delivery, full and on the pads, Kaur gets across and flicks it tamely straight into the hands of Gwanzura at short mid-wicket. A soft dismissal and Zimbabwe are off to a brilliant start. Harmanpreet Kaur c Nyasha Gwanzura b Michelle Mavunga 1(4)
- 1.4WNyasha Gwanzura to Anushka Sharma, out Caught by Kelis Ndhlovu!! Another one bites the dust, a loose shot from Anushka Sharma, full and wide outside off, Sharma reaches out and slices it straight into the hands of Kells at point. Nyasha Gwanzura is over the moon having taken two wickets in 4 balls. Anushka Sharma c Kelis Ndhlovu b Nyasha Gwanzura 4(3) [4s-1]
- 1.34Nyasha Gwanzura to Anushka Sharma, FOUR, she's off the mark with a boundary as well, touch shorter and outside off, Sharma stays backa nd cuts it to deep point
- 1.1WNyasha Gwanzura to Smriti Mandhana, out Caught by Tendai Makusha!! Nyasha Gwanzura is ecstatic and can't hide her joy, the dangerous Mandhana is gone, length delivery on the leg stump, Smriti shuffles across and attempts the lap shot, but got it off the leading edge and went towards square leg, where Makusha takes a well judged catch. Zimbabwe strike early. Smriti Mandhana c Tendai Makusha b Nyasha Gwanzura 9(6) [4s-2]
- 0.64Tendai Makusha to Shafali Verma, FOUR, she is off the mark with a boundary, length delivery outside off, Shafali Verma walks down the track and punches it on the up to deep point
- 0.44Tendai Makusha to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR, the under-edge, but a sloppy effort in the deep by Mayers. Full and wide outside off, Mandhana reaches out and goes hard at it, the ball races off the under edge towards third man, Mayers did well to get to the ball, but as she slided the ball went off her hands towards the ropes
- 0.34Tendai Makusha to Smriti Mandhana, FOUR, She's launched onto it in a flash, fraction shorter, Mandhana shifts back and pulls it over the in-field to deep mid-wicket
- India may have crossed the finish line with more than four overs to spare, but make no mistake, this was far from a straightforward chase. The way Nyasha Gwanzura and Michelle Mavunga came out firing in the second innings had India under genuine pressure, and for a while, it looked like Zimbabwe were on the verge of pulling off something special. But it wasn’t to be! Smriti Mandhana’s tenure gets off to a winning start, but India will know there are areas to work on as they continue their preparations for the Champions Trophy. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, have made it clear that they can't be taken lightly, and India will need to be on their toes in the remaining games. We will be back on Sunday for the second T20I. Until then, it’s good night and goodbye from all of us at Cricbuzz. Take care, and we will see you soon!
- Deepti Sharma | Player of the Match: [How pleased are you?] I'm really pleased because I am used to these kind of situations, and I'm glad that I could bat little early in the powerplay. My mindset was that I have to finish the game, and that's how me and Niki were playing. [What was your mindset behind those attacking shots early in your innings?] I had a clear (plan) that I have to play a few shots early when it's in my radar. So I calculated according to that, and my mindset is pretty simple that I have to play in my areas. [How much has franchise cricket helped you develop your game?] Pretty much helped me. WPL, the Hundred and all that stuff helped me to bat little early and assess the condition well while chasing. And when you are mentally ready, you can adapt (to) the situations, and that's how I do it.
- Smriti Mandhana (2/2): [When you face an unfamiliar opponent like Zimbabwe for the very first time, how do you prepare, execute, and learn as you go?] Credit to Zimbabwe, their batters definitely played some quality cricketing shots out there. Playing against an unknown opposition can be tricky because you don't fully know what to expect. But I thought the way we adapted towards the back end by using slower variations worked really well for us. We did prepare and plan against them beforehand, but watching video footage and facing them live are two completely different things. [What was it like batting alongside someone with as much experience as Deepti Sharma?] She played brilliantly. The way she took the attack to the bowlers meant she never allowed them to settle or dominate. Watching her bat with that intent gave me a lot of confidence to play my own shots at the other end.
- Smriti Mandhana | India captain: (1/2) [Congratulations on the win! It was a close game, how do you look back at the team's performance today?] Process-wise, we might not have played the exact way we wanted as a team, but nevertheless, a win is a win. We have a few standout performances to appreciate: Nandani Sharma bowled extremely well, Niki Prasad showed remarkable composure on her debut, and Deepti Sharma, well, she's been doing this for a very long time; she's a true legend of the game. We’re really happy to get the win, but there are definitely plenty of takeaways and areas for us to work on as a group. [What are the top one or two things you’d want to address in the dressing room first as captain?] I've actually already addressed those points in the dressing room! Once we get going, people will start seeing the results in due time for sure. I wouldn't really want to disclose those specifics right now, but we've definitely had conversations around them. On a positive note, I thought our intensity on the field today, especially with Smriti and Niki throwing themselves around was a massive plus for us.
- Josephine Nkomo | Zimbabwe captain: [How impressed were you with the bowling and fielding?] I was very impressed by our bowling and our fighting spirits to have India 19/4 in the powerplay. I'll take that any day. [What helped your bowlers put India on the back foot early?] I think we just kept everything simple, just started bowling a good line and length, and then just backed ourselves with the (fielding) as well. [What will you address ahead of the next game?] I think we just need to work on our dot ball percentage. We had quite a lot of dot balls, so if we just convert those into more singles and twos, I think we'll be good to go.
- Niki 2/2: [How were the conditions out there? Was there a lot of dew, and did it make batting any easier?] There was definitely a lot of dew, which made the ball travel much faster off the bat. At the same time, the pitch started slowing down a bit and keeping slightly low, but Deepti and I adapted well to the conditions. [Besides securing the win, it's a dream debut for you! What stands out as the most satisfying aspect of today for you personally?] I'm really happy that I was able to see the game through and build that crucial partnership with Deepti. This is just the start, and I want to keep playing the same way and contribute more and more to the Indian team going forward.
- Niki Prasad 1/2: [Walk us through your mindset coming into this game. You looked so composed out there]. I think I was well-prepared. I knew that when I walked in, my job was simply to take the game deep and see it through, and that's exactly what I focused on out in the middle. [India were struggling at 19 for 4 when you and Deepti Sharma came together. What was the conversation between you two at that stage?] We were just focused on building a partnership. Once we got going and stabilized the innings, we started discussing which bowlers to target and where we could take calculated risks. [You’ve already built a reputation for delivering under immense pressure. What’s the secret behind staying so cool?] Nothing special, really, just staying calm and playing each ball on its merit.
- Stats by Roshan Gede
- Most consecutive defeats in Women’s T20Is 26 - Eswatini-W (September 2021 - July 2025) 26 - Mongolia-W (September 2023 - June 2026) 21* - Zimbabwe-W (October 2025 - October 2026) 20 - Bulgaria-W (October 2024 - June 2026) 20 - Lesotho-W (August 2018 - July 2025) India have extended their winning streak to nine matches, their longest in the format, followed by seven between September 2018 and November 2018.
- Highest 5th wicket stands from 4 down 159 - Sophie Devine, Maddy Green (NZ-W) vs ENG-W, Canterbury, 2026 82 - Niki Prasad, Deepti Sharma (IND-W) vs ZIM-W, Raipur, 2026 72 - Deandra Dottin, Stacy-Ann King (WI-W) vs SA-W, Durban, 2016 67 - Amy Jones, Heather Knight (ENG-W) vs PAK-W, Edgbaston, 2024 64 - Nat Sciver-Brunt, Danni Wyatt-Hodge (ENG-W) vs AUS-W, North Sydney, 2017 *full-member teams
- Highest individual scores on T20I debut for IND-W 66* - Rumeli Dhar vs ENG-W, Derby, 2006 41* - Amanjot Kaur vs SA-W, KuGumpo City, 2023 39* - Niki Prasad vs ZIM-W, Raipur, 2026 39 - Smriti Mandhana vs BAN-W, Vadodara, 2013 37 - Jemimah Rodrigues vs SA-W, Potchefstroom, 2018
- Highest stands for 5th wicket or lower for IND-W in T20Is 82 - Niki Prasad, Deepti Sharma vs ZIM-W, Raipur, 2026 77 - Mithali Raj, Anuja Patil vs SL-W, Ranchi, 2016 76 - Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur vs SA-W, KuGumpo City, 2023 75 - Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh vs UAE-W, Dambulla, 2024 70* - Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues vs Barbados-W, Edgbaston, 2022 *the first two came in successful chases
- 22:05 Local Time, 16:35 GMT, 22:05 IST: That was quite the scare for Smriti Mandhana in her first outing as India’s full-time captain! There were plenty of anxious faces in the Indian camp as Nyasha Gwanzura and Michelle Mavunga ripped through the top order, leaving India reeling at 19/4 in a modest chase of 115. Just when Zimbabwe threatened to pull off a stunning upset, debutant Niki Prasad and seasoned campaigner Deepti Sharma stepped up to steady the ship and steer India away from what could have been an embarrassing defeat. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Anushka Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur were guilty of being a touch reckless, with all four back in the hut within the first 19 deliveries of the innings. But that’s when Deepti and Niki stepped up, displaying outstanding composure and game awareness to stitch together a match-defining partnership. Their 82-run stand off 63 deliveries extinguished Zimbabwe’s hopes and brought smiles back to the Indian dugout. Deepti fell agonisingly short of a half-century, but Niki stayed right till the very end, remaining unbeaten on 39 and leaving the crease only after completing the job. The Indian players are all smiles, a stark contrast to the nerves that crept in after Zimbabwe’s strong start to the second innings. But as they say, all’s well that ends well!
- Over 16 · 5 runs (1 0 0 4)
- 15.44Tendai Makusha to Niki Prasad, FOUR, and that’s that! Fittingly, debutant Niki Prasad has the final say, capping off a memorable first outing with a stylish front-foot drive to the right of mid-off. What a knock to announce herself on the international stage! She has held her nerve, finished the job in style, and India take a 1-0 lead in the series
- 15.3•Tendai Makusha to Niki Prasad, no run, some width on offer and Niki Prasad finds the fielder at point on a cut
- 15.2•Tendai Makusha to Niki Prasad, no run, guess that's inside the revised red guideline on the leg side, Niki Prasad misses on a clip and the umpire says it's not a wide
- 15.11Tendai Makusha to Arundhati Reddy, 1 run, sort of rushes Arundhati Reddy with a skiddy length, Arundhati Reddy somehow brings the bat down and gets an inside edge that rolls to fine leg
- Tendai Makusha [1.0-0-14-0] is back into the attack
- End of over 15 · 8 runs (1 0 6 0 W 1) · 1 wktINDW 111/6Arundhati Reddy 1(1) · Niki Prasad 35(32) · Beloved Biza 4-0-27-1
- 14.61Beloved Biza to Arundhati Reddy, 1 run, 76.9kph, pushes it a bit quicker - fullish on the pads. Arundhati Reddy sweeps it along the carpet to deep square leg. Just 4 needed now
- Arundhati Reddy, right handed bat, comes to the crease
- 14.5WBeloved Biza to Richa Ghosh, out Caught by Nyasha Gwanzura!! In the air, and taken at deep mid-wicket! Zimbabwe have caught well tonight. Floated up on off stump, and Richa Ghosh goes for the slog sweep but gets a thick top edge that balloons high into the night sky. The fielder moves a few steps in, has ample time to settle underneath it, and takes it safely. Richa Ghosh c Nyasha Gwanzura b Beloved Biza 7(5) [6s-1]
- Beloved Biza to Richa Ghosh, THATS OUT!! Caught!!
- 14.4•Beloved Biza to Richa Ghosh, no run, pulls her length back and Richa Ghosh is stuck in the crease, ends up inside edging it onto the pads
- 14.36Beloved Biza to Richa Ghosh, SIX, there you go! This is what she can do! Gets the length, right under her bat and clears her front leg to launch it down the ground for a towering six
- 14.2•Beloved Biza to Richa Ghosh, no run, some extra bounce there from the length around off, Richa Ghosh shapes for a cut but doesn't make the connection
- 14.11Beloved Biza to Niki Prasad, 1 run, rocks back for this length delivery and knocks it to long on for a single
- End of over 14 · 3 runs (0 1 0 W 1 1) · 1 wktINDW 103/5Niki Prasad 34(31) · Richa Ghosh 1(1) · Olinder Chare 3-0-23-1
- 13.61Olinder Chare to Niki Prasad, 1 run, width on offer and Niki Prasad stays deep in the crease to cut it past point for a single and will retain the strike
- 13.51Olinder Chare to Richa Ghosh, 1 run, tossed up on the stumps and Richa Ghosh drills it to the right of the diving bowler for a single
- Richa Ghosh, right handed bat, comes to the crease
- 13.4WOlinder Chare to Deepti Sharma, out Caught by Mayers!! Oh no, you have got to feel for her! Just one short of her fifty! This was there to be put away. Another one sliding down the leg side, Deepti Sharma gets down on one knee and goes for the sweep, only to pick out the fielder at short fine leg. Seems to have come off the toe end of the bat, and the fielder completes a reverse-cup catch over her head. But what a knock under pressure! Walking in with India staring at a challenging situation, she has turned the tide with a sensational display of composure, class and experience. Deepti Sharma c Mayers b Olinder Chare 49(37) [4s-8]
- Olinder Chare to Deepti Sharma, THATS OUT!! Caught!!
- 13.3•Olinder Chare to Deepti Sharma, no run, round the wicket and floated down the leg, Deepti Sharma gets down and sweeps it to short fine
- 13.21Olinder Chare to Niki Prasad, 1 run, takes a step forward and drives it to the right of cover fielder for a single
- 13.1•Olinder Chare to Niki Prasad, no run, comes in with the arm and Niki Prasad is happy to defend it back to Olinder Chare
- Olinder Chare [2.0-0-20-0] is back into the attack
- End of over 13 · 5 runs (1 1 1 1 1 0)INDW 100/4Deepti Sharma 49(35) · Niki Prasad 32(28) · Beloved Biza 3-0-19-0
- 12.6•Beloved Biza to Deepti Sharma, no run, doesn't get to her fifty in this over as she blocks this straight delivery back to the bowler
- 12.51Beloved Biza to Niki Prasad, 1 run, ovecooks the flight and ends up bowling a full toss on the pads, Niki Prasad comes down the wicket and tucks it to deep mid-wicket
- 12.41Beloved Biza to Deepti Sharma, 1 run, presents the full face of the bat and eases it to long-on to move to 49
- 12.31Beloved Biza to Niki Prasad, 1 run, opens the face of the bat and steers this length delivery outside off to the left of backward point
- 12.21Beloved Biza to Deepti Sharma, 1 run, gives it a bit of loop as Deepti Sharma brings her bat down and whips it to deep square leg. Niki wanted another run but Deepti Sharma sends her back
- 12.11Beloved Biza to Niki Prasad, 1 run, tossed up on the middle as Niki Prasad kneels down and sweeps it to deep square leg
- End of over 12 · 14 runs (4 1 1 4 0 4)INDW 95/4Deepti Sharma 47(32) · Niki Prasad 29(25) · Michelle Mavunga 3-1-19-1
- 11.64Michelle Mavunga to Deepti Sharma, FOUR, moves to 47 with another authoritative shot! A lot of width on offer and Deepti Sharma cuts it fiercely past the point fielder for a boundary
- 11.5•Michelle Mavunga to Deepti Sharma, no run, angling across and very close to the tramline outside off, Deepti Sharma leaves it alone thinking it's a wide but the umpire says no
- 11.44Michelle Mavunga to Deepti Sharma, FOUR, Deepti Sharma is putting on a show tonight! Plants her knee and slog sweeps this fullish delivery to the vacant deep mid-wicket region for another boundary
- 11.31Michelle Mavunga to Niki Prasad, 1 run, 102.2kph, short and wide, Niki Prasad crunches it straight to the fielder at deep cover for one run
- 11.21Michelle Mavunga to Deepti Sharma, 1 run, once again leg lined and Deepti Sharma flicks it to deep square leg and only gets a single this time around
- 11.14Michelle Mavunga to Deepti Sharma, FOUR, nah, can't bowl that line with no one at deep mid-wicket! Fullish on the stumps as Deepti Sharma moves across and whips it for a boundary
- Michelle Mavunga [2.0-1-5-1] is back into the attack
- End of over 11 · 7 runs (0 1 4 0 1 1)INDW 81/4Deepti Sharma 34(27) · Niki Prasad 28(24) · Beloved Biza 2-0-14-0
- 10.61Beloved Biza to Deepti Sharma, 1 run, 75.2kph, it's very full from the spinner and Deepti Sharma is happy to push it to long-on
- 10.51Beloved Biza to Niki Prasad, 1 run, tossed up around off, Niki Prasad drills it to long off along the ground for a single
- 10.4•Beloved Biza to Niki Prasad, no run, a bit more bounce from the length, Niki Prasad punches it back to the bowler
- 10.34Beloved Biza to Niki Prasad, FOUR, slower and shorter outside off, Niki Prasad stays on the back foot for the cut and gets a thick edge to beat the keeper to her right and gets a boundary
- 10.21Beloved Biza to Deepti Sharma, 1 run, floated around off at 76.9kph as Deepti Sharma leans across and times the drive to deep cover for a single
- 10.1•Beloved Biza to Deepti Sharma, no run, too full on the stumps, Deepti Sharma knocks it to the fielder at mid-wicket
- Drinks on the field now, with this partnership getting India back on track!
- End of over 10 · 15 runs (1 4 1 4 4 1)INDW 74/4Deepti Sharma 32(24) · Niki Prasad 23(21) · Olinder Chare 2-0-20-0
- 9.61Olinder Chare to Deepti Sharma, 1 run, touch shorter again, punched down the ground to long-on
- 9.54Olinder Chare to Deepti Sharma, FOUR, this time off the back foot, drags it short this time, Sharma stays back and punches it past the fielder to wide long-off, picked the gap to perfection!
- 9.44Olinder Chare to Deepti Sharma, FOUR, juicy full-toss on offer, easy pickings for Deepti and she kneels down and sweeps it to deep square leg, the partnership between Deepti Sharma and Niki Prasad is now 50
- 9.31Olinder Chare to Niki Prasad, 1 run, full on off, Prasad walks down and drives it to sweeper cover
- 9.24Olinder Chare to Niki Prasad, FOUR, misses her radar and bowls it on the pads, Prasad was hanging back, just had to get some part of the bat on it and the ball raced away to fine leg fence
- 9.11Olinder Chare to Deepti Sharma, 1 run, well tossed up on middle, Sharma mistime a loft to long-on
- End of over 9 · 7 runs (1 0 4 0 1 1)INDW 59/4Deepti Sharma 22(20) · Niki Prasad 18(19) · Beloved Biza 1-0-7-0
- 8.61Beloved Biza to Deepti Sharma, 1 run, full on middle and leg, Sharma eases it down to long-on
- 8.51Beloved Biza to Niki Prasad, 1 run, in the air, but it falls in no man's land, well tossed up on off, Prasad goes for the sweep and top edges it towards short third, just over the keeper
- 8.4•Beloved Biza to Niki Prasad, no run, comes down the track, takes it on the full and hits it straight to the bowler
- 8.34Beloved Biza to Niki Prasad, FOUR, top shot and she is having a promising debut here, nothing wrong with the delivery, on a length and outside off, Prasad plays late and punches it through deep point region
- 8.2•Beloved Biza to Niki Prasad, no run, full on middle and leg, cramped for room, Prasad goes back and defends it
- 8.11Beloved Biza to Deepti Sharma, 1 run, tossed up on off, Deepti gets forward and drives it to sweeper cover
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