⚡ Quick Summary
India women play Zimbabwe women in three ODIs at Vadodara on October 23, 25 and 28, 2026, after three T20Is in Raipur. It is the first bilateral series between the two teams, and the ODIs count toward the ICC Women's Championship 2025-29. Smriti Mandhana captains India. Start times were not given in the sources we checked. Research cutoff: October 16, 2026.
The first ODI is on Friday, October 23, 2026, which makes it the main cricket fixture of that date. This guide sets out the confirmed schedule, the squads announced, and the details you should check before match day. Nothing here predicts a result, and the T20I results are not covered because the series was only beginning on the research date.
Series schedule
The International Cricket Council (ICC) lists six women's matches in the tour.
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | Oct 16 | Raipur |
| 2nd T20I | Oct 18 | Raipur |
| 3rd T20I | Oct 20 | Raipur |
| 1st ODI | Oct 23 | Vadodara |
| 2nd ODI | Oct 25 | Vadodara |
| 3rd ODI | Oct 28 | Vadodara |
The ICC calls the Vadodara venue "Baroda", which is the same city. None of the pages we opened gave start times or the name of the ground, so confirm both on the BCCI or ICC match page.
Why this series is historic
The Bridge reports that the two women's teams have never met in international cricket before. It also describes the tour as Zimbabwe women's first visit to India. The ICC calls it the first bilateral meeting between the sides.
For Zimbabwe, a full tour of India is a rare chance to face a major team on its home turf. For India, it is a chance to start a new phase under new leadership.
A new captain for India
ICC reports that Smriti Mandhana takes over as India's all-format captain from Harmanpreet Kaur, who stepped down from the role on October 6. This is Mandhana's first series as captain. The sources do not give a reason for the change, so we offer none.
Harmanpreet Kaur remains in both squads as a player.
India's announced squads
ODI squad
Smriti Mandhana (captain), Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Harleen Deol, Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma (vice-captain), Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Yastika Bhatia (wicketkeeper), Vaishnavi Sharma, Nandni Sharma, Sree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare and Renuka Thakur.
T20I squad
Smriti Mandhana (captain), Shafali Verma (vice-captain), Niki Prasad, Harmanpreet Kaur, Anushka Sharma, Richa Ghosh, G Kamalini, Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Sree Charani, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Jintimani Kalita and Minnu Mani.
We did not find Zimbabwe's squad in the pages we opened, so we name no Zimbabwe players. Squads can change because of injury, so check official announcements.
What the ICC Women's Championship means here
The ICC states that the ODI leg forms part of the ICC Women's Championship 2025-29. That means the three ODIs carry competitive weight beyond a friendly series. We have not verified the points system, so we do not describe it.
What changes between the T20I and ODI squads
The two India squads overlap heavily but are not identical. Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Tejal Hasabnis, Yastika Bhatia, Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare and Renuka Thakur appear only in the ODI list. Niki Prasad, Anushka Sharma, G Kamalini, Prema Rawat, Arundhati Reddy, Jintimani Kalita and Minnu Mani appear only in the T20I list. Deepti Sharma is vice-captain for the ODIs, while Shafali Verma holds that role in the T20Is, according to Telangana Today.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the first India v Zimbabwe women's ODI?
On Friday, October 23, 2026, in Vadodara, according to the ICC schedule.
Who captains India?
Smriti Mandhana, in her first series as full-time captain.
Do the ODIs count in a points table?
The ICC says the ODI leg is part of the ICC Women's Championship 2025-29.
What time does play start?
None of the sources we opened gave start times, so check the official match page.
How to follow the series
- Dates: Check the BCCI or ICC site for confirmed start times in IST.
- Broadcast and streaming: None of our sources named a broadcaster, so check the official listing.
- Ticketing: We found no ticket information, so look for official notices closer to the date.
- Results: Scorecards belong on the official match pages. We do not publish predictions.
How this fits the wider cricket calendar
India's men begin a long tour of New Zealand in the same week. Our tour schedule has the dates in India time. For the full list of events on the day, see our October 23 overview.
Conclusion
The first ODI at Vadodara on October 23 opens the 50-over leg of a first-ever India-Zimbabwe women's series, led by a new captain. Confirm start times and the broadcaster on the official pages, then use our New Zealand tour guide to plan the rest of the week's cricket.
