Smriti Mandhana set to chase 5,000 T20I runs as India host Zimbabwe in Raipur
Smriti Mandhana will have history in her sights when India begin their T20I series against Josephine Nkomo’s Zimbabwe in Raipur on Thursday, October 16. The Indian opener is 133 runs shy of becoming the first batter in cricket history to reach 5,000 runs in T20Is.
Since her debut in 2013, Mandhana has scored 4,867 runs in 179 T20I matches at an average of 31 and a strike rate of 127.47, including 2 centuries and 37 half-centuries. With three T20Is scheduled against Zimbabwe, she has a realistic opportunity to pass the 5,000-run mark during the series in front of a home crowd. Her role at the top of the order will be important for India’s start to the tour.
The series also coincides with a change in leadership: Mandhana is preparing to take charge of India as their full-time captain across formats. She takes over from Harmanpreet Kaur, who stepped down earlier this month after leading India successfully defend their cricket gold medal at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
The BCCI Women shared a training-day image on social media, posting: "Taking charge to Soak in Smriti Mandhana's 1st day in training as #TeamIndia Captain #INDvZIM | @mandhana_smriti | @mflone_ https://t.co/EMLJrJmISS— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) October 13, 2026". Mandhana brings leadership experience from Royal Challengers Bengaluru, whom she guided to two Women's Premier League titles.
Although this will be her first series as India's full-time captain, Mandhana has previously led the national side on an interim basis. She has captained India in 18 T20Is and four ODIs, winning 11 T20Is and all four ODIs, and the Zimbabwe visit offers scope to establish her approach while pursuing personal milestones.
The tour schedule lists three T20Is in Raipur on October 16, 18 and 20, followed by three ODIs in Vadodara on October 23, 25 and 28. The visit is the first-ever bilateral women's cricket series between India and Zimbabwe.
India's first match, the T20I in Raipur on October 16, is the confirmed next fixture in which Mandhana could surpass 5,000 career T20I runs.
