Pratika Rawal and Shree Charani Lead India to Nine-Wicket Win Over Zimbabwe in First ODI

India secured a commanding nine-wicket victory over Zimbabwe on October 23, 2026, at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, overhauling a 198-run target with 22.5 overs to spare in their opening match of the three-match series.

Charani and Gaud Bundle Zimbabwe for 197

Playing only their second series since capturing their maiden World Cup triumph in November 2025, the hosts showed minimal rust despite not playing the format for close to eight months. N Shree Charani delivered career-best figures of 4 for 23, while Kranti Gaud claimed 3 for 42 to dismiss the tourists for 197 in 49.5 overs.

Zimbabwe struggled to build consistent momentum after opting to bat on a flat pitch. Early lapses in the field saw India drop several chances, including Richa Ghosh putting down Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano and Deepti Sharma spilling Modester Mupachikwa, but Charani’s breakthroughs through the middle overs curtailed the innings. The pace of the game turned quickly once Charani came on, beginning with a maiden before trapping Chipo LBW with her first ball of the next over, and then removing Modester by bowling her fourth over on the trot when the batter miscued a lofted drive to mid-off.

Rawal and Verma Chase Down Target in 27 Overs

Pratika Rawal led the chase by scoring her third ODI century, finishing unbeaten on 100 off 96 balls with 15 fours. Promoted to open alongside Smriti Mandhana, who was leading in an ODI for the first time since being appointed full-time captain, Rawal helped construct a 94-run opening partnership before Mandhana was caught at long-on for 32 off Olinder Chare. India’s openers made light work of the chase as Pratika hit two fours in the first over while Smriti found her timing at the other end, racing to 72 without loss after 10 overs aided by wayward bowling from stand-in captain Nomvelo Sibanda, who strayed on the pads repeatedly in place of Josephine Nkomo, out with a niggle, allowing India to gallop to 48 for 0 in five overs. Pratika, dropped on 45 at midwicket, slowed down after being on 37 off 29 at one point and reached her fifty off 54 balls.

Batting at number three for only the second time in ODIs, Shafali Verma accelerated the scoring rate with an unbeaten 64 off just 33 deliveries. Verma smashed four sixes and five fours, racing to her fifty off just 29 balls despite not getting the benefit of field restrictions of the first ten overs, and was particularly severe on Chare by scoring 43 off 19 against her, including three sixes in a 20-run 26th over. Pratika reached her hundred with successive fours off Tendai Makusha in the 27th over as the 106-run stand came off only 70 balls, before Shafali hit a lofted shot over Nyasha Gwanzura’s head to seal the victory at 200 for 1 in 27.1 overs.

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