India Women are entering a new chapter with Smriti Mandhana officially taking charge as their new all-format captain. The star opener will lead the side for the first time in her new full-time role when India face Zimbabwe in a six-match white-ball series at home this month.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed Mandhana’s appointment on October 6, following Harmanpreet Kaur’s decision to step down as India captain across all formats. Mandhana has now been handed the responsibility of taking Indian women’s cricket forward, with the Zimbabwe series set to become the first major assignment of her captaincy era.
The change comes after a significant period for Indian women’s cricket. Harmanpreet had been one of the most important leaders in the team’s modern history, taking over the T20I captaincy in 2016 before becoming the full-time ODI and Test captain in 2022. She will continue to play for India despite relinquishing the leadership role.
Mandhana, meanwhile, is no stranger to leadership. Before receiving the full-time captaincy, she had already led India in 18 T20Is and four ODIs. She has also enjoyed considerable success as captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women’s Premier League, guiding the franchise to WPL titles in 2024 and 2026.
The 30-year-old left-hander has also reached another remarkable stage in her international career. ICC noted recently that Mandhana had become the leading run-scorer in women’s international cricket, moving past former India captain Mithali Raj. She also holds the record for the most international centuries in women’s cricket, with 18 hundreds across formats.
For Mandhana, the Zimbabwe series is therefore about much more than simply winning six matches. It will offer the first real glimpse of how she wants to shape the Indian team as its permanent white-ball leader.
India women squad for Zimbabwe series
India have named separate squads for the T20I and ODI legs of the Zimbabwe series, with Mandhana named captain in both formats.
The India T20I squad features a blend of established international names and younger players. Alongside Mandhana are Shafali Verma, Niki Prasad, Harmanpreet Kaur, Anushka Sharma, Richa Ghosh, G Kamalini, Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Sree Charani, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Jintimani Kalita and Minnu Mani.
India T20I squad: Smriti Mandhana (captain), Shafali Verma, Niki Prasad, Harmanpreet Kaur, Anushka Sharma, Richa Ghosh, G Kamalini, Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Sree Charani, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Jintimani Kalita, Minnu Mani.
The ODI squad has several familiar faces but also includes players who bring additional depth to India’s 50-over setup. Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Tejal Hasabnis, Yastika Bhatia, Vaishnavi Sharma and Sayali Satghare are among the players selected for the longer white-ball format.
India ODI squad: Smriti Mandhana (captain), Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Harleen Deol, Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia, Vaishnavi Sharma, Nandni Sharma, Sree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Renuka Thakur.
One of the most interesting aspects of the selection is Harmanpreet’s continued presence. Although she has handed the captaincy to Mandhana, the former skipper remains part of both squads. Her experience could be particularly valuable as Mandhana begins her first series as India’s full-time captain.
That combination of a new leader and an experienced former captain could give India an interesting balance during the transition.
India women vs Zimbabwe: full series schedule
The India Women vs Zimbabwe series will begin with three T20Is in Raipur before the action moves to Vadodara for three ODIs.
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | October 16 | Raipur |
| 2nd T20I | October 18 | Raipur |
| 3rd T20I | October 20 | Raipur |
| 1st ODI | October 23 | Vadodara |
| 2nd ODI | October 25 | Vadodara |
| 3rd ODI | October 28 | Vadodara |
BCCI had previously announced that Raipur would host the T20I portion of Zimbabwe Women’s tour of India, while Vadodara would stage the ODI matches. The board confirmed that the tour would consist of three T20Is followed by three ODIs.
The opening T20I will be played at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur on October 16. The match is scheduled to begin at 1:30 pm.
The ODI leg begins on October 23 at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara, with the second ODI scheduled for October 25 and the third on October 28.
This series will also be historic because it marks the first bilateral international meeting between India and Zimbabwe in women’s cricket, giving both teams an opportunity to establish a new cricketing rivalry.
What can fans expect from Mandhana’s captaincy?
Mandhana’s leadership style is likely to be one of the biggest talking points throughout the series.
She has already gained experience leading at international level, but taking permanent charge of the Indian team is a different challenge. The responsibility will extend beyond her own batting performances, particularly as India prepare for a new phase following Harmanpreet’s departure from the captaincy.
The biggest advantage Mandhana brings is familiarity with the team. She has been part of the Indian setup since 2013 and has spent years working alongside many of the players who will now look to her for leadership. BCCI highlighted her long international experience and leadership qualities when announcing her appointment.
Her record with RCB also gives her an important recent reference point. Leading a franchise in a high-pressure tournament is very different from captaining India, but winning two WPL titles shows that Mandhana has already experienced what it takes to manage a successful side.
The Zimbabwe series should therefore provide a relatively fresh but important starting point. India will expect to win, but the bigger objective will be building combinations, giving younger players opportunities and allowing Mandhana to establish her own approach.
The presence of players such as Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh and Harmanpreet Kaur means Mandhana will not be short of experienced voices around her. At the same time, the inclusion of several younger players gives India an opportunity to strengthen their bench for the future.
For Zimbabwe, meanwhile, this is a major opportunity to test themselves against one of the strongest teams in women’s cricket. Zimbabwe’s women’s side also enters a new leadership phase after Josephine Nkomo was confirmed as their captain earlier in 2026.
With both teams having new leadership structures, the series could be more intriguing than the rankings might initially suggest.
The spotlight, however, will undoubtedly remain on Mandhana. After years of being one of India’s most dependable batters and serving as Harmanpreet’s deputy, she finally has the opportunity to make the captaincy her own.
Her first assignment begins on October 16 in Raipur, and Indian fans will be watching closely to see what the new era looks like.
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