IND-W Vs ZIM-W Highlights, 1st T20I: Deepti Sharma, Niki Prasad Lead India Women To Four-Wicket Win, 1-0 Series Lead

Welcome to our live coverage of the 1st T20I match between India women and Zimbabwe women in Raipur! Get ready for an action-packed evening as the Women in Blue take the field. Stay tuned with us today for live scores, team updates, and all the ball-by-ball action right here.

The India-W vs Zimbabwe-W 1st T20I will be telecast live on Star Sports Network and streamed on the JioHotstar app and website in India from 7 PM IST onwards.

Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh (CSCS) said female fans will be allowed into the stands free of charge for all three India-Zimbabwe T20Is in Raipur after Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai suggested the move.

India-W: India-W: Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana (c), Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Minnu Mani, Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Nandani Sharma, Anushka Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Jintimani Kalita, Sree Charani, Niki Prasad, G Kamalini (wk), Prema Rawat

Zimbabwe-W: Sharne Mayers, Chiedza Dhururu (wk), Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Modester Mupachikwa (wk), Josephine Nkomo (c), Nomvelo Sibanda, Loryn Phiri, Nyasha Gwanzura, Francisca Chipare, Kelis Ndhlovu, Michelle Mavunga, Olinder Chare, Kudzai Chigora, Beloved Biza, Tendai Makusha

The 1st T20I between India-W and Zimbabwe-W is scheduled to start at 7 PM IST, with the toss scheduled at 6:30 PM IST.

1st T20I: India Women vs Zimbabwe Women, Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur — 7:00 PM IST (Oct 16, 2026)

2nd T20I: India Women vs Zimbabwe Women, Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur — 7:00 PM IST (Oct 18, 2026)

3rd T20I: India Women vs Zimbabwe Women, Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur — 7:00 PM IST (Oct 20, 2026)

1st ODI: India Women vs Zimbabwe Women, BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara — 2:00 PM IST (Oct 23, 2026)

2nd ODI: India Women vs Zimbabwe Women, BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara — 2:00 PM IST (Oct 25, 2026)

3rd ODI: India Women vs Zimbabwe Women, BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara — 2:00 PM IST (Oct 28, 2026)

India Women have won the toss and have opted to field.

Smriti Mandhana is keeping things simple after winning the toss. With dew expected to play a role, India Women have decided to bowl first. The bowling combination features three pacers and two spinners, with Shafali Verma available as the sixth option. Mandhana also has a couple of young faces to look forward to, with Niki Prasad making her debut and Anushka Sharma in the mix.

India Women (Playing XI): Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana(c), Anushka Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur, Niki Prasad, Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Shree Charani, Arundhati Reddy, Nandani Sharma, Kranti Gaud

Zimbabwe Women (Playing XI): Kelis Ndhlovu, Beloved Biza, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Sharne Mayers, Michelle Mavunga, Nyasha Gwanzura, Francisca Chipare, Modester Mupachikwa(w), Josephine Nkomo(c), Olinder Chare, Tendai Makusha

The pre-match formalities are out of the way in Raipur, although the stands look rather sparse with plenty of empty seats. Before the action gets underway, both teams observe a minute's silence in memory of Zimbabwean umpire Sarah Dambanevana, who passed away a few days ago at the age of 36.

A solemn moment before the cricket takes centre stage. Zimbabwe's national anthem plays first, followed by India's, with the national song of India playing now.

And we're off in Raipur! Kelis Ndhlovu and Beloved Biza are out in the middle to get Zimbabwe's innings underway, with Ndhlovu taking strike. Kranti Gaud has the new ball in hand for India Women. Let the battle begin!

A single for Kelis Ndhlovu at 1.5 as she works Nandani Sharma's short-of-a-length delivery towards deep backward square-leg. Modester Mupachikwa then gets forward and drives the next ball nicely, but finds the fielder at extra-cover. No run there, and Zimbabwe move along cautiously.

Kelis Ndhlovu is starting to find her range! She hammers Kranti Gaud for back-to-back boundaries, first driving a full delivery hard and wide of mid-off before cutting a good-length ball past point. Gaud follows that up with a delivery that's too short and wide, and Ndhlovu misses the pull, but India are penalised with a wide. Zimbabwe are beginning to pick up the pace.

Kelis Ndhlovu is not holding back! She steps forward to meet Shafali Verma's tossed-up delivery and creams it through the gap wide of mid-off. Harmanpreet Kaur gives chase, but the ball races past her to the boundary. Zimbabwe are finding their rhythm early.

Shree Charani strikes straight after the drinks break! Modester Mupachikwa steps down the track to push a length delivery but is caught out by the extra bounce.

The ball takes the sticker of her bat and loops back to Charani, who makes no mistake with a simple return catch. Mupachikwa departs for 16 off 26 balls, with Zimbabwe losing another wicket.

Sharne Mayers takes the invitation and sends Deepti Sharma's full delivery over mid-off for four! She goes for the lofted shot but doesn't quite middle it, slicing the ball in the air. Shree Charani runs back in an attempt to get under it, but the ball sails over her and races to the boundary. Zimbabwe get a timely boundary.

Sharne Mayers is not letting that one go! Arundhati Reddy serves up a full delivery wide outside off, right in the slot, and Mayers throws her hands at it, smashing it past mid-off for four. Zimbabwe find another boundary as Mayers makes the most of the opportunity.

Finally, India Women get the breakthrough they desperately needed! Arundhati Reddy sends down a slower, full delivery outside off, and Kelis Ndhlovu goes for the lofted shot but fails to get the timing right.

The ball hangs in the air, seemingly destined to land safely, but Niki Prasad charges in from long-off and pulls off a superb diving catch.

The third umpire is checking whether the ball touched the ground, so Ndhlovu has to wait for the verdict after walking towards the dressing room. A massive moment for India, with Ndhlovu departing for 42 off 43 balls, including six fours.

What a twist! Just as India thought they had finally dismissed Kelis Ndhlovu, the third umpire has ruled the catch incomplete. Niki Prasad had sprinted in from long-off and dived forward to grab the ball, but after reviewing the available angles, third umpire N Janani concludes that the ball touched the ground.

Ndhlovu, who was already heading back to the dressing room, is called back to resume her innings. Niki and Smriti Mandhana can hardly believe it. India will have to wait a little longer for this breakthrough.

And this time, there is no escape for Kelis Ndhlovu! Arundhati Reddy follows up the overturned catch with a beauty, knocking over the stumps to end the Zimbabwe batter's resistance. Ndhlovu departs for 42 off 44 balls, having struck six fours. India finally have their big breakthrough.

Sharne Mayers thinks about going big but has to hold back as Shree Charani fires in a flat delivery on middle. Mayers checks her shot at the last moment and settles for a defensive push back to the bowler. No run there.

Sharne Mayers finishes the over in style, slicing Arundhati Reddy's delivery through the gap between backward point and cover-point for four. Zimbabwe collect 15 runs from the over as they look to make every delivery count in the death overs.

Zimbabwe post 114/5 in 20 overs, setting India a target of 115 in the series opener. At the halfway mark, Zimbabwe were comfortably placed at 60/1, with Kelis Ndhlovu and Modester Mupachikwa laying a solid foundation. But India turned things around after the drinks break, tightening the screws with dot balls and picking up crucial wickets. The pressure mounted, and Zimbabwe could not find the late surge they needed. India will be pleased with that fightback.

Here we go! India Women are out to chase 115, with captain Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma opening the innings. Tendai Makusha takes the new ball and starts with a disciplined back-of-a-length delivery outside off. Mandhana gets behind the line and defends it safely.

No run off the first ball, and Zimbabwe begin with a tidy delivery.

Oh, that's a massive early breakthrough for Zimbabwe! Nyasha Gwanzura gets the big fish, Smriti Mandhana, for 9 off just six balls. Mandhana shuffles across to play the lap shot but gets a leading edge instead, sending the ball towards square leg, where Tendai Makusha takes a well-judged catch.

Zimbabwe have struck early, and India lose their captain in the chase.

Anushka Sharma comes to the crease.

Zimbabwe are making a real mess of India's chase! Nyasha Gwanzura strikes again, removing Anushka Sharma just three balls after dismissing Smriti Mandhana.

Anushka reaches for a full delivery wide outside off but can only slice it straight to Kelis Ndhlovu at point. Gwanzura is on a roll, picking up two wickets in four balls as India suddenly find themselves under serious pressure.

Harmanpreet Kaur comes to the crease.

India are in deep trouble already! Michelle Mavunga joins the party, dismissing Harmanpreet Kaur for just one run off four balls. Nyasha Gwanzura, who has already sent Smriti Mandhana and Anushka Sharma packing, takes the catch to add to Zimbabwe's growing tally. Three wickets down in the powerplay, and India’s chase of 115 is falling apart fast.

Niki Prasad finds the gap and sends it racing to the boundary! She steps down the track, lets Francisca Chipare's length delivery come to her and nails the drive with excellent timing.

The placement is just as good, beating the fielder comfortably. India need more of these as they look to rebuild after a disastrous start.

Niki Prasad is making her debut count! She waits for Beloved Biza's length delivery outside off and punches it beautifully through the deep-point region for four. There's nothing wrong with the delivery, but Prasad's timing and placement do the damage. India need a big effort from the young batter as she looks to steady the innings alongside Deepti Sharma.

Niki Prasad keeps the boundaries coming! Beloved Biza takes pace off and drops it short outside off, but Prasad finds a way to put it away for four. The debutant is showing positive intent as she and Deepti Sharma try to pull India out of trouble.

Deepti Sharma is fighting back in style! She gets down on one knee and launches a fullish delivery from Michelle Mavunga towards the vacant deep mid-wicket region with a well-timed slog sweep. Another boundary for India as Deepti and Niki Prasad continue their efforts to revive the chase.

Oh, that hurts! Deepti Sharma falls just one run short of a half-century, departing for 49 off 37 balls with eight fours. Olinder Chare gets the breakthrough, with Sharne Mayers taking the catch to end Deepti's fighting knock. She had kept India's hopes alive, but the hosts now lose a crucial wicket in the chase.

Another blow for India! Richa Ghosh goes for the big slog sweep against Beloved Biza but gets a thick top edge that soars towards deep mid-wicket. Nyasha Gwanzura settles underneath it and takes a comfortable catch. Richa departs for 7 off five balls, and Zimbabwe continue to keep India under pressure in this chase.

India Women seal a four-wicket win over Zimbabwe Women, chasing down 115 in just 15.4 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Debutant Niki Prasad has the final say, driving Tendai Makusha through the gap to the right of mid-off for a boundary to finish the chase in style. A memorable international debut for Niki!

That’s a wrap! We’ll be back with another live blog soon. Until then, bye-bye!