Smriti Mandhana started her tenure as India’s full-time T20I captain with a series victory. India defeated Zimbabwe by nine wickets in the second T20I. The win gave India an unassailable lead in the three-match series.
India chased down Zimbabwe’s target of 103 in only 8.5 overs. They finished at 104/1 and won with 67 balls remaining.
Shafali Verma was the star with the bat. She smashed 55 from just 24 balls. Her innings included six fours and four sixes. Mandhana stayed unbeaten on 47. She ended the match with a six.
The opening pair dominated from the start. India scored 76 runs without losing a wicket in the Powerplay. It was India’s second-highest Powerplay score in women’s T20Is.
India’s Bowlers Set Up the Comfortable Win
India’s bowlers kept Zimbabwe under pressure throughout their innings. Nandani Sharma dismissed Kelis Ndhlovu in the fourth over. Zimbabwe reached only 20/1 after six overs.
The hosts then slipped to 20/2 and 30/3. Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano and captain Josephine Nkomo tried to rebuild the innings with a 45-run partnership.
However, Niki Prasad changed the game. She took two wickets with the first two balls of her spell. Prasad finished with impressive figures of 2/7.
Zimbabwe eventually reached 102/8. Mugeri-Tiripano top-scored with 34.
Shafali then took control of the chase. She reached her half-century with a six in the eighth over. She was dismissed from the next delivery.
Her 55 was her ninth 50-plus score in women’s T20Is in 2026. It is the most by any player in a calendar year.
The partnership between Shafali and Mandhana was also special. It was their ninth 50-plus opening stand of 2026. That equals the calendar-year record in women’s T20I cricket.
Mandhana finished the chase with a six. India secured a dominant nine-wicket victory and sealed the series with one game still remaining.
