![India Women Playing vs Zimbabwe. [Source - AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1792225806366_IndiaWomenPlayingvsZimbabwe.jpg?type=hq)
India Women Playing vs Zimbabwe. [Source - AFP]
India Women will take on Zimbabwe Women in the second T20I on Sunday, October 18. The match will begin at 7 PM IST at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur.
India won the first T20I on Friday to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. As they will look to extend their advantage and seal the series on Sunday, here is a look at India Women’s predicted playing XI vs Zimbabwe Women.
Top Order: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Anushka Sharma
Shafali Verma continues to be mainstay as opener as she has been India Women’s leading T20I batter in 2026, scoring 867 runs at an average of 37.69 and a strike-rate of 162.96, including one century and seven fifties.
Smriti Mandhana, India’s new all-format captain, had a quiet outing in the first T20I and will look to come all guns blazing in the 2nd T20I. She is India’s second-highest T20I run-scorer this year, with 774 runs at 36.85, including one century and five fifties.
Anushka Sharma, who was dismissed cheaply in the first T20I, is expected to get another opportunity at 3 in India Women’s predicted playing XI vs Zimbabwe Women. Four matches into her T20I career, she has scored 76 runs and will be eager to register her first big score.
Middle-order and All-rounders: Harmanpreet Kaur, Niki Prasad, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma
Harmanpreet Kaur continues to be the pillar of India Women’s middle-order and is expected to bat at No. 4. The former Indian captain will look to make a valuable contribution and provide stability to the innings in the 2nd T20I.
Niki Prasad, who made her debut in the first T20I, is expected to retain her place at No. 5 after scoring an unbeaten 39. Her match-saving partnership with Deepti Sharma showcased her composure under pressure and gave India a crucial boost.
Richa Ghosh is likely to bat at No. 6 and shoulder the finishing responsibilities, although she can be promoted if the situation demands. With a strike-rate of 147.39 in T20Is this year, she remains one of India's most dangerous ball-strikers.
Deepti Sharma is expected to slot in at No. 7, adding depth with both bat and ball. She can also serve as a floater in a crisis, as we saw in the first T20I when her match-winning 49 helped India secure victory.
Bowlers: Arundhati Reddy, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma, Kranti Gaud
Arundhati Reddy is expected to retain her place in India Women’s predicted playing XI vs Zimbabwe Women for the second T20I. She had a tough outing in the series opener, conceding 30 runs in three overs while picking up one wicket.
Shree Charani has been India’s leading T20I wicket-taker in 2026, claiming 48 wickets at an average of 10.5, an economy rate of 5.57 and a strike-rate of 11.2. She impressed in the first T20I, conceding just 14 runs and taking one wicket in her four overs.
Nandani Sharma has been India’s leading T20I pacer this year, with 19 wickets at an economy rate of 6.7. She continued her impressive form in the 1st T20I, taking two wickets for just 11 runs in four overs.
Kranti Gaud provided India with the perfect start in the first T20I, claiming a wicket in the opening over. She is expected to take the new ball again in the second T20I as India look to seal the three-match series.
India Women Playing XI vs Zimbabwe Women For 2nd T20I 2026
Smriti Mandhana (C), Shafali Verma, Anushka Sharma, Harmanpreet Kaur, Niki Prasad, Richa Ghosh (WK), Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma and Kranti Gaud.
