India defeated Zimbabwe by nine wickets in Raipur on October 18, 2026, sealing a 2-0 series victory in the three-match T20 international series. Smriti Mandhana marked her first series win as captain, while Shafali Verma and debutant Nikki Prasad set new international records.
Shafali Verma and Nikki Prasad Rewrite T20 Records in Raipur
The second T20 international at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur delivered a pair of milestone performances. Sent in to bat first, Zimbabwe managed 102 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs. Chipo Mugeri-Tripiano top-scored for the visitors with 34 runs, while captain Josephine Nkomo contributed 27.
India’s bowling attack kept the touring side under tight control. Debutant Nikki Prasad made an immediate impact by taking two wickets on her first two deliveries in international cricket, setting a world record for a bowler claiming two wickets off her opening two balls in women’s T20 internationals.
Mandhana and Verma Chase Down the Target in Under Nine Overs
Chasing a modest target of 103, India made rapid work of the innings. Captain Smriti Mandhana and opening partner Shafali Verma launched an aggressive pursuit that dismantled the Zimbabwean bowling attack from the outset. Verma recorded her 22nd international T20 half-century, striking six boundaries and four sixes during a blistering 25-ball knock of 55 runs before losing her wicket.
At the other end, Mandhana remained unbeaten on 47 runs from 25 balls, hitting six boundaries and two sixes to guide her team across the line. India reached 103 for the loss of just one wicket in 8.5 overs, securing a dominant nine-wicket victory.
Historic Milestones Mark India’s Series-Clinching Win
The victory gave India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, handing Mandhana her first series win as captain. Verma’s fifty also made her the player with the most 50-plus scores in a single calendar year in women’s T20 international history.
The opening fixture in Raipur had seen India win by four wickets, setting the stage for this commanding performance. Ahead of the series opener, the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Association, acting on a suggestion from Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Saye, provided free stadium entry for female fans during the Navratri festival, marking the first time Raipur hosted a women’s international cricket fixture.
Next Stops on Zimbabwe’s Tour of India
With the T20 leg concluded in Raipur, both squads will travel to Vadodara in Gujarat, where three one-day international matches are scheduled from October 23 to October 28, 2026.
