IND vs ZIM: The world champions from India hit the restart button with Smriti Mandhana in the new cycle

It was a great start to a new era of leadership for the Indian women’s team. They managed a clean sheet against Zimbabwe in the T20I series, giving Smriti Mandhan the perfect start to her stint as full-time captain. Now the focus shifts to the ODIs and it is something that the Indian team has been missing for quite some time.

India will return to the 50-over format after a long hiatus as the reigning ODI World Cup champions begin their 2025-29 Women’s Championship campaign against Zimbabwe in Vadodara.

The Indian team has only featured in 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 these encounters.

India’s delayed entry means they are the only side to have played a match in the ongoing cycle of the championship so far. In contrast, West Indies have already completed 12 matches, while New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe have played nine each.

Although the next ODI World Cup is still three years away, Mandhana-led India have a considerable window to prepare for the global event. However, the points at stake in the Women’s Championship mean that the upcoming ODIs will carry an extra importance beyond the immediate match against Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe may have lost the T20I series, but they offered signs of resistance during the competition. They will also head into the ODI stage after registering their first-ever win over West Indies in the format in September. With eight defeats from nine matches in the ongoing championship cycle, the visitors will be looking to take confidence from this breakthrough and secure their first win on the tour of India.

FOCUS ON SMRITI, HARMANPREET

Smriti enjoyed a prolific run in ODIs in 2025, finishing the year with 1,362 runs from 23 matches. Her record included five centuries and as many half-centuries, underlining her consistency in the format. She also made her mark 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 be hoping that her aggressive approach with the bat translates into a successful start to their Championship campaign.

The same hope will also be pinned on Harmanpreet Kaur, now freed from the shackles of captaincy, to emerge as a player who could be a vital cog in the field. Harmanpreet showed her class during the T20I finalas she hit 91 off 41 balls and showed some emotion towards the end.

BCCI plans to use Harmanpreet as well as MS Dhoni for Virat Kohli after he gave up the Indian captaincy. If it has to work, India will need the former captain to stay on top of her game.

While the two remain central to India’s plans, the supporting cast will also be important. Shafali Verma has been sensational in the T20Is and vice-captain and India will expect Deepti Sharma to do the same in the ODI format.

This is the format Deepti has been a star for India with the bat and more importantly the ball and is ready to step into the role of helping Smriti.

“When you get a new role, I take it as a challenge. When the news came, I felt good that I can 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 launch.

“My mindset is to win as many matches as possible for the team, either as a player or as a vice-captain. In that 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, the fast bowler is still working on the bowling workload required to compete in the 50-over format. Jintimani Kalita was called as her replacement.

Nandani Sharma could be in contention for an ODI debut after an impressive T20I series in which she took six wickets. Since her international debut in the shortest format in May, the girl has continued to impress.

India have also brought back left-armer Vaishnavi Sharma to the squad, so the team management has to decide on the selection before the ODIs start. It remains to be seen whether either of the two Sharmas will feature in the playing XI.

Zimbabwe experimented with their combinations during the series against the West Indies, rotating players and testing Sharne Mayers in both the opening and middle roles.

Their bowling attack offers a combination 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 further variety in the spin department.

IND vs ZIM 1ST ODI: VADODARA PITCH AND WEATHER REPORT

India have fond memories at the Kotambi Stadium, taking a 3-0 series lead against the West Indies in their only previous ODI stint at the venue in 2024. The visitors amassed 314 and 358 in the first two matches before completing a comfortable chase of 163 in just 29 overs in the series finale.

The black surface could once again favor the batsmen and set the stage for another high-scoring contest. Weather conditions in Vadodara are expected to remain mostly sunny with day temperatures likely to touch 36 degrees Celsius. Dew could become a factor during the second inning, when temperatures are expected to drop.

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 Barber (wk), Kelis Ndhlovu, Gift Barber-Tiripano, Beloved Horse, Josephine Nkomo (c), Sharne Mayers/Light Duck, Grace Gwanzura, Michelle Mavunga, Nompilo Sibanda, Francisca Chipare, Olinder Chare/Tendai Wool

– The end