Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
It’s been a great start to the new era of leadership for the Indian women’s team. They were able to produce a clean sweep against Zimbabwe in the T20I series, giving Smriti Mandhana the perfect start to her tenure as the full-time captain. Now the focus shifts to the ODIs and it is something that Indian team has been missing for some time.
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India are set to return to the 50-over format after a lengthy gap as the reigning ODI World Cup champions begin their 2025-29 Women’s Championship campaign against Zimbabwe in Vadodara.
The Indian team has featured in just three ODIs since lifting the World Cup in November 2025, with all three matches coming during their tour of Australia in March. They suffered defeats in each of those encounters.
India’s delayed entry means they are the only side yet to play a game in the ongoing Championship cycle. In contrast, West Indies have already completed 12 matches, while New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe have each played nine.
Although the next ODI World Cup is still three years away, India, led by Mandhana, have a sizeable window to prepare for the global event. However, the points at stake in the Women’s Championship mean the upcoming ODIs carry added importance beyond the immediate contest against Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe may have lost the T20I series, but they offered signs of resistance during the contest. They also head into the ODI leg after recording a landmark first-ever victory over West Indies in the format in September. With eight defeats from their nine matches in the ongoing Championship cycle, the visitors will look to draw confidence from that breakthrough and secure their maiden win on the India tour.
FOCUS ON SMRITI, HARMANPREET
Smriti enjoyed a prolific run in ODIs in 2025, finishing the year with 1,362 runs from 23 matches. Her tally included five centuries and as many half-centuries, underlining her consistency in the format. She has also made an impact as captain, scoring 254 runs in four matches at the helm, with a century and a fifty at a strike rate of 149.41. With Mandhana now leading India, the team will hope her aggressive approach with the bat translates into a successful start to their Championship campaign.
The same hope will also be placed on Harmanpreet Kaur, who is now free from the shackles of captaincy to become a player that could be a vital cog in this side. Harmanpreet showed her class during the final T20I, when she hit 91 off 41 balls and showed a bit of emotion towards the end.
BCCI are planning to use Harmanpreet, just like how MS Dhoni was for Virat Kohli after relinquishing India captaincy. If that needs to work, India will need the former captain to remain at the top of her game.
While these two remain central to India’s plans, the supporting cast will also be important. Shafali Verma was sensational in the T20Is and vice-captain and India will expect Deepti Sharma to do the same in the ODI format.
This is a format that Deepti has been a star for India with bat and, more importantly, with the ball and is ready to step up into the role to help Smriti.
“When you get a new role, I take it as a challenge. When this news came, I felt good that I could help the other players as much as possible for the team. So, when I got this role, I was very happy,” Deepti said on the eve of the series opener.
“My mindset is to win as many matches as possible for the team, whether as a player or as vice-captain. In this role, I can help Smriti as much as possible,” she added.
IND VS ZIM 1ST ODI: TEAM NEWS
India will be without Renuka Singh for the series, with the fast bowler still working towards the bowling workload needed to compete in the 50-over format. Jintimani Kalita has been called up as her replacement.
Nandani Sharma could be in contention for an ODI debut after an impressive T20I series, in which she claimed six wickets. The youngster has continued to make an impression since making her international debut in the shortest format in May.
India have also brought left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma back into the squad, leaving the team management with a selection decision ahead of the opening ODI. It remains to be seen whether either of the two Sharmas features in the playing XI.
Zimbabwe experimented with their combinations during the series against West Indies, rotating players and testing Sharne Mayers in both the opening and middle-order roles.
Their bowling attack offers a mix of pace and spin, with Nomvelo Sibanda, Francisca Chipare, Tendai Makusha and Michelle Mavunga among the seam options. Olinder Chare, Nyasha Gwanzura and Beloved Biza provide additional variety in the spin department.
IND vs ZIM 1ST ODI: VADODARA PITCH AND WEATHER REPORT
India have fond memories of the Kotambi Stadium, having registered a 3-0 series whitewash against West Indies during their only previous ODI assignment at the venue in 2024. The hosts piled up 314 and 358 in the first two games before completing a comfortable chase of 163 in just 29 overs in the series finale.
The black-soil surface could once again favour the batters, setting the stage for another high-scoring contest. Weather conditions in Vadodara are expected to remain largely sunny, with daytime temperatures likely to climb to 36 degrees Celsius. Dew could become a factor during the second innings, when temperatures are expected to ease.
IND vs ZIM 1ST ODI: PREDICTED PLAYING XIS
India: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana (c), Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma/Sayali Satghare.
Zimbabwe: Modester Mupachikwa (wk), Kelis Ndhlovu, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Beloved Biza, Josephine Nkomo (c), Sharne Mayers/Chiyedza Dhururu, Nyasha Gwanzura, Michelle Mavunga, Nomvelo Sibanda, Francisca Chipare, Olinder Chare/Tendai Makusha
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
