Pratika Rawal century and Shafali Verma fifty steer India to 198 chase in first ODI at Vadodara
Pratika Rawal scored a century and Shafali Verma made a half-century as India chased 198 to beat Zimbabwe in the first ODI at Vadodara on Friday, October 23, 2026.
The team combination drew attention before the match when newly appointed full-time skipper Smriti Mandhana chose to open with Pratika Rawal and send Shafali Verma to number three, a slot usually held by Jemimah Rodrigues, who is missing through injury. The change answered questions about India's top order as the pair produced the platform for a comfortable victory.
Pratika produced a match-defining innings, reaching three figures while opening the chase; she described the day as one when the ball ‘‘went where I wanted it to’’ and said it felt ‘‘good to be back in the room’’ after watching highlights of the New Zealand game from the 2025 World Cup before going out to bat. ‘‘Before going in to bat, I saw highlights on the TV of the game against New Zealand (from the 2025 World Cup), and I thought that was the game where I scored my last hundred,’’ she said. ‘‘Good to be back in the room, always good to score runs and contribute to a team’s victory by batting as long as I can. It was one of those days when the ball went where I wanted it to. Luckily, it turned out really good today.’’
Shafali, batting at number three, acknowledged the different demands of the role and admitted she had to curb aggression without the full 10-over PowerPlay. ‘‘Of course, I didn’t get that 10 over PowerPlay with just two fielders outside. I just tried to take the singles and I will learn these things. ODIs are testing my patience, but I am really happy to learn,’’ she said.
The bowling performance that set up the chase came from N. Sree Charani, whose career-best figures of four for 23 included three maiden overs on a pitch that did not offer much turn for the tweakers. The 22-year-old explained her approach: ‘‘I bowled to my strengths. I just focused on my lengths. In our bowling meetings before every game, we work on sticking to the channel and on attacking the stumps. We did that today,’’ she said.
Charani’s figures provided the platform for India’s batters by restricting Zimbabwe early, and the combined batting contributions of Rawal and Verma completed the run chase to secure India’s win in the opening match of the series.
