India begin 2025-29 Championship ODIs against Zimbabwe in Vadodara with Smriti Mandhana leading

India begin their 2025-29 Women’s Championship campaign against Zimbabwe in Vadodara as they return to the 50-over format following a T20I sweep that handed Smriti Mandhana a winning start as full-time captain, according to a report published on 22 October 2026. The series opener represents India’s first ODI assignments since they lifted the World Cup in November 2025.

India have played only three ODIs since winning the World Cup in November 2025, all during their March tour of Australia, and lost each of those matches. That delayed entry has left India the only side yet to record a game in the current Championship cycle; by comparison, West Indies have completed 12 matches while New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe have each played nine.

Mandhana’s recent form in the 50-over game is underlined by her 2025 returns: she scored 1,362 runs from 23 matches, including five centuries and five half-centuries. As captain she has accumulated 254 runs in four matches at the helm, with a century and a fifty at a strike rate of 149.41.

Harmanpreet Kaur, freed from captaincy, played a match-defining innings at the end of the T20 series when she struck 91 off 41 balls, and the BCCI plan to use her in a senior batting role similar to how MS Dhoni was used for Virat Kohli after he stepped down as captain. Shafali Verma continued her strong form in the T20s and Deepti Sharma is expected to carry her all-format contributions into the ODIs.

Deepti, who has been named vice-captain, set out her approach ahead of the series opener: "When you get a new role, I take it as a challenge. When this news came, I felt good that I could help the other players as much as possible for the team. So, when I got this role, I was very happy," she said. "My mindset is to win as many matches as possible for the team, whether as a player or as vice-captain. In this role, I can help Smriti as much as possible," she added.

India will be without fast bowler Renuka Singh for the series as she continues working towards the 50-over workload; Jintimani Kalita has been named as her replacement. Nandani Sharma, who claimed six wickets in the T20I series, could be considered for an ODI debut, and left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma has been recalled to the squad, leaving a selection choice ahead of the opening ODI between the two Sharmas.

Zimbabwe arrive after a T20 series defeat but with recent signs of progress, including a first-ever ODI win over West Indies in September; they have recorded eight defeats from nine matches in the Championship cycle. Their bowling resources named for the tour include Nomvelo Sibanda, Francisca Chipare, Tendai Makusha and Michelle Mavunga among the seam options, with Olinder Chare, Nyasha Gwanzura and Beloved Biza providing spin.

India’s only previous ODI series at Kotambi Stadium came in 2024 when they completed a 3-0 whitewash of West Indies, posting 314 and 358 in the first two games before chasing 163 in 29 overs in the finale. The venue’s black-soil surface "could once again favour the batters," and forecasters expect largely sunny conditions with daytime temperatures around 36 degrees Celsius and dew possibly affecting the second innings.

Team lists named for the series are: 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 Mupachikwa (wk), Kelis Ndhlovu, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Beloved Biza, Josephine Nkomo (c), Sharne Mayers/Chiyedza Dhururu, Nyasha Gwanzura, Michelle Mavunga, Nomvelo Sibanda, Francisca Chipare, Olinder Chare/Tendai Makusha.

A final playing XI will be confirmed before the opening ODI in Vadodara, where selection decisions over the two Sharmas and match-day conditions such as dew are expected to influence both teams as India seek to get their Championship campaign underway.