India Women Predicted Playing XI [Source: AFP]India Women and Zimbabwe Women cricket teams will collide in the first T20I of their three-match series on Friday, October 16. The match will be hosted by the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur.The match marks the first-ever meeting between the two sides in any form of international women’s cricket.India Women vs Zimbabwe Women 1st T20I, 2026 PreviewTeam India recently thrashed Sri Lanka in Japan to clinch the gold medal at the 2026 Women’s T20 Asian Games. Just last month, the ‘Women in Blue’ also won the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup in Dubai. On a trail of an eight-match winning streak, India’s upcoming home series against Zimbabwe marks their first assignment since Smriti Mandhana took over charge as full-time national captain. With one eye on next year’s 2027 ICC Women’s Champions Trophy, the hosts will be aiming to make the most of their series against Zimbabwe.ALSO READSmriti Mandhana Issues 1st Statement As India Captain For Champions Trophy 2027The Zimbabwe Women’s team, on the other hand, has lost 20 T20I matches in a row, which included successive series whitewashes at the hands of New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and West Indies Women. Zimbabwe last tasted Women’s T20I success way back in September last year during the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Division One Qualifier.Here is a look at a predicted playing XI for the India Women’s team for the first T20I match of the series against Zimbabwe Women.Openers and Top Order: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet KaurSmriti Mandhana will continue to open the innings for India after her recent success at the 2026 Asia Cup and the 2026 Asian Games. The skipper will be paired with her deputy and fellow blistering opener, Shafali Verma. Shafali concluded both, the 2026 Asia Cup in the UAE and the 2026 Asian Games in Japan as its highest run-maker. Mandhana also aggregated over 300 runs across both competitions in just seven innings.Former captain Harmanpreet Kaur will take guard at number three, considering the 37-year-old is one of the most experienced campaigners in the format at the moment.Middle-order and All-rounders: Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Anushka Sharma, Gunalan KamaliniBlistering wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh will be expected to helm the Indian middle-order alongside fellow hard-hitting radical Deepti Sharma. While Richa holds an astonishing T20I strike rate of nearly 150, senior all-rounder Deepti can score the quick runs and she is also the world’s leading wicket-taker in women’s T20I history.Anushka Sharma, another spin-bowling all-rounder, might make her return to the playing XI. She last played for India back in her debut series in South Africa in April this year. Gunalan Kamalini, India’s back-up wicketkeeper for the series, might also receive yet another opportunity in the Indian playing XI after clinching the Asian Games gold medal in Nisshin last month. Bowlers: Arundhati Reddy, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma, Kranti GaudFast bowler Arundhati Reddy will be expected to operate inside the powerplay overs alongside fellow pacer Nandani Sharma. While Arundhati has not played any T20I cricket since the conclusion of the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, she has picked up 48 wickets in the format in 53 innings.Nandani decimated Bangladesh in the Asian Games 2026 semifinal just last month, and the two fast bowlers will be accompanied by in-form spinner Shree Charani and right-arm quick Kranti Gaud to cap a formidable Indian playing XI.Charani is currently the number one ranked ICC Women’s T20I bowler, while Kranti will be aiming to improve her dismal T20I bowling record.India Women Playing XI vs Zimbabwe Women For 1st T20I- 2026 Smriti Mandhana (c), Shafali Verma (vc), Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Anushka Sharma, Gunalan Kamalini, Arundhati Reddy, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma and Kranti Gaud.ALSO READPathum Nissanka Ruled Out Of Sri Lanka’s Tri-Nation Series In Pakistan; Replacement Named
