India Women Thrash Zimbabwe by Nine Wickets in First ODI
India Women defeated Zimbabwe by nine wickets in the first ODI, as Pratika Rawal scored an unbeaten century and Shree Charani claimed four wickets to give India a 1–0 lead in the series.
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India’s women’s cricket team began its three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against Zimbabwe with a commanding nine-wicket victory at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on October 23, 2026. An unbeaten century from Pratika Rawal and a brilliant four-wicket haul by Shree Charani helped India dominate the opening match and take a 1–0 lead in the series.
India chased down Zimbabwe’s target of 198 runs in just 27.1 overs, finishing at 200 for one. The comprehensive victory also gave Smriti Mandhana a winning start to her tenure as India’s full-time ODI captain.
Shree Charani Leads India’s Bowling Attack
After winning the toss, Zimbabwe elected to bat first but struggled to build consistent partnerships against India’s disciplined bowling attack. The visitors were eventually bowled out for 197 in 49.5 overs.
Most loved player Biza scored the most runs for Zimbabwe, scoring 62 runs in 92 balls, whereas Michelle Mavunga scored 29 runs in 23 balls, but others found it hard to continue against the Indian bowlers.
Shree Charani, a left-arm spinner, played her best in this match by taking four wickets for just 23 runs in her 10 overs. Her best bowling figures helped Zimbabwe make just a low score in this match.
Pacer Kranti Gaud also impressed, taking three wickets for 42 runs. Deepti Sharma added two wickets, while Shafali Verma claimed one, ensuring Zimbabwe could not build a competitive score.
Pratika Rawal Smashes an Unbeaten Century
The chase for India was spearheaded by their opener, Pratika Rawal, who showed her prowess as she scored an unbeaten 100 runs in 96 balls. The score comprised 15 fours and was her third century in ODI cricket.
Rawal demonstrated excellent control and patience, finding gaps consistently and punishing loose deliveries. She anchored the chase while ensuring India remained comfortably ahead of the required run rate.
India's captain Smriti Mandhana made 32 runs from 34 balls before getting out. The pair of Smriti and Pratika provided India a great start to the run-chase. Rawal’s century earned her the Player of the Match award. Her performance was particularly significant as she returned to the international ODI setup with an impressive contribution at the top of the order.
Shafali Verma Adds Explosive Firepower
Shafali Verma complemented Rawal’s steady innings with an aggressive unbeaten 64 off just 33 deliveries. Her knock featured five fours and four sixes, putting Zimbabwe’s bowlers under immediate pressure.
Verma attacked the bowling confidently, accelerating the scoring rate and ensuring India reached the target without difficulty. The pair shared an unbroken 106-run partnership for the second wicket, completing the chase in emphatic fashion.
India finished at 200 for one in 27.1 overs, winning with 137 balls remaining. The result highlighted the team’s strength in both batting and bowling.
India Take the Lead in the ODI Series
The victory marked an encouraging start for India in the three-match series. The bowlers restricted Zimbabwe to below 200, while the batters demonstrated their ability to finish a chase quickly and efficiently.
For Mandhana, the result was a positive beginning to her tenure as full-time ODI captain. The performances of Charani, Rawal and Verma also underlined India’s depth and versatility across departments.
India will now look to maintain its momentum in the remaining matches, while Zimbabwe will aim to improve its batting performance and challenge the hosts in the next encounter. With a dominant bowling display and an emphatic run chase, India delivered a comprehensive performance to secure a nine-wicket victory in the first ODI.
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