Twenty-year-old Karnataka all-rounder Niki Prasad made her senior India debut in the first T20I against Zimbabwe in Raipur on Friday.
Australia Women 'A' defeated India 'A' by 30 runs in Mullanpur, securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match unofficial T20I series, largely thanks to Katie Mack's unbeaten 83.
India's Women's T20 team secured a four-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the first match of the bilateral series on Friday, overcoming an early batting collapse thanks to a crucial partnership between debutant Niki Prasad and veteran Deepti Sharma. Zimbabwe, led by Kelis Ndhlovu and Sharne Mayers, posted 114 for five.
Tejal Hasabnis and Anushka Sharma's aggressive half-centuries, coupled with Nikki Prasad's all-round performance, led India A Women to a four-wicket victory over Australia A in the first women's one-day match in Mullanpur.
India Women secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the T20I series against Zimbabwe, winning the second match by nine wickets. Opener Shafali Verma scored a rapid 55, while captain Smriti Mandhana remained unbeaten on 47, chasing down Zimbabwe's target of 103 in just 8.5 overs. Indian bowlers had earlier restricted Zimbabwe to a low total.
The Indian women's cricket team is set to complete a 3-0 T20I series sweep against Zimbabwe in the final match in Raipur, buoyed by strong performances from captain Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, and debutant Niki Prasad.
Smriti Mandhana has been appointed captain of the Indian women's cricket team for both T20I and ODI formats, with Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma named vice-captains respectively. This follows Harmanpreet Kaur's decision to step down. The squads for the upcoming home series against Zimbabwe have also been announced, featuring new inclusions and notable exclusions due to injury.
Indian opener Shafali Verma, after her aggressive fifty against Zimbabwe, revealed she studied Australian batters to improve her consistency. Her 25-ball 55 helped India secure a series-clinching nine-wicket win in the second T20I. Skipper Smriti Mandhana praised Shafali's performance and the team's improved bowling effort, while Zimbabwe's captain Josephine Nkomo acknowledged learning from India's batting masterclass.
Indian women's cricket team vice-captain Shafali Verma stated the team's goal to play fearless and smart cricket in preparation for the Women's Champions Trophy early next year. The team will face Zimbabwe in a T20 series, part of their preparations, followed by ODIs.
Smriti Mandhana will lead the Indian women's T20 team in a three-match series against Zimbabwe in Raipur, marking the start of a new era. The series is crucial for India to address their T20 weaknesses in batting, fielding, and bowling, especially after recent World Cup exits, while Zimbabwe looks to build on their recent success.
Under new skipper Smriti Mandhana, a dominant Indian women's cricket team is set to face Zimbabwe in a three-match ODI series, aiming for another clean sweep after their T20I success.
Former captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored an unbeaten 91 off 41 balls, and Shafali Verma added 69, guiding India to a commanding 92-run victory over Zimbabwe in the third and final T20I. This win secured a 3-0 series sweep for India, with Harmanpreet finding her form ahead of crucial assignments.
The Indian Women's A team lost a close encounter to their Australian counterparts in the second unofficial ODI, despite a magnificent century from Yastika Bhatia. Australia successfully chased down a formidable target of 339, levelling the series 1-1.
Ahead of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027 player auction in Kochi on October 28, a total of 63 players, including 23 overseas stars, have been retained across the five franchises.
Newly-appointed India captain Smriti Mandhana outlined her team's strategy to utilise the upcoming six T20Is, including a series against Zimbabwe, as crucial preparation for the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy early next year. She emphasised setting high standards and improving in the shortest format.
Pacer Tess Flintoff's exceptional four-wicket haul dismantled India A's batting line-up, leading Australia A to a comfortable six-wicket victory in the opening match of the women's unofficial T20I series.
Medium pacer Sophie Devine and spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad stole the spotlight as Gujarat Giants survived anxious moments to edge past Delhi Capitals by three runs.
Smriti Mandhana is more suited to lead India in the longer formats after Harmanpreet Kaur's tenure ends while the much younger Shafali Varma can be handed the reins of the T20 side following another pre-mature exit from the World Cup, former captain legendary Mithali Raj said.
The franchise chose to retain only former Under-19 World Cup winner Shweta Sehrawat as part of a fresh approach for the upcoming season.
India would like to continue their flawless campaign when they take on England in the semifinal
Delhi Capitals, the losing finalists of the first three seasons, have not made an ideal start under the new leadership of Jemimah Rodrigues. It is still early days but Rodrigues and Co. would be desperate to get their campaign back on track.
Delhi Capitals produced a splendid bowling effort before their batters, led by Niki Prasad, survived some anxious moments to register a narrow two-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in a last-ball thriller in the Women's Premier League
Mandhana, Voll guide RCB to fourth consecutive win in WPL
Delhi Capitals Women held their nerve in a tense chase as captain Jemimah Rodrigues guided them to a five-wicket win , in Vadodara on Sunday, sealing an Eliminator clash with Gujarat Giants and knocking Mumbai and UP Warriorz out.
Delhi Capitals will aim to upset defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru -- the only unbeaten team in WPL 2026 with five wins in a row.
Perennial finalists Delhi Capitals take on in-form Gujarat Giants in the WPL eliminator, with a spot in the February 5 final at stake.
Shafali Verma was named captain of the North Zone team for the Senior Inter-Zonal T20 Trophy, starting in Nagaland, from Tuesday.
The World Cup winners' medal is the latest addition to Verma's trophy cabinet, which also includes the 2023 Under-19 World Cup, the 2022 Asia Cup, the 2022 Asian Games gold medal and the 2022 Commonwealth Games silver.
Kanika Ahuja, who plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women's Premier League and also made her T20I debut for India earlier this year, is among the 15 women's players from India.
MI have managed just two wins from five outings, while Delhi Capitals are last with three losses from four matches.
Delhi Capitals will have their fate in their own hands as they look for a win against UP Warriorz in the final league match of the Women's Premier League match in Vadodara
On a high after beating RCB, Delhi Capitals aim for strong showing against Gujarat Giants
Unbeaten so far in the tournament, a dominant India will start as overwhelming favourites to win their second consecutive women's Under-19 T20 World Cup crown when they take on also-undefeated South Africa in the final in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
Having retained the majority of their squad, MI will be the team to beat given their formidable batting, but Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals will be out to spoil their party.
Such was India's domination that only two Sri Lankan batters -- Sumudu Nisansala (21) and captain Manudi Nanayakkara (33) -- could manage double-digit scores.
Gujarat Giants, on the other hand, have been heavily reliant on Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner, who has been their standout performer.
India captain Niki Prasad described the women's Under-19 T20 World Cup title win as a 'special moment' for the team.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be determined to give their home fans a parting victory when they take on a fatigued Delhi Capitals in Bengaluru on Saturday, before the Women's Premier League moves to Lucknow for its third leg.
India's U19 women's cricket team continued their impressive run at the ICC Women's U19 World Cup, securing an eight-wicket victory over Bangladesh in a Super Six encounter.
Shafali Verma (44) and Jess Jonassen's (61 not out) fireworks underlined Delhi Capitals' complete domination as they crushed Gujarat Giants by six wickets.
