IND-W vs ZIM-W 1st ODI Match Result: India Women Crush Zimbabwe by 9 Wickets in Historic Vadodara Opener
India Women produced a ruthless all-round display to demolish Zimbabwe Women by 9 wickets in the 1st ODI of the three-match series at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara, on October 23, 2026. Chasing a modest 198, India raced to 200/1 in just 27.1 overs, sealing the first-ever WODI between the two sides with 22.5 overs to spare and taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
IND-W vs ZIM-W 1st ODI Scorecard Summary
| Innings | Score | Top Performers |
|---|---|---|
| Zimbabwe Women | 197 all out (49.5 ov) | Beloved Biza 62 (92), Modester Mupachikwa 25; Shree Charani 4/23, Kranti Gaud 3/42, Deepti Sharma 2/44 |
| India Women | 200/1 (27.1 ov) | Pratika Rawal 100* (96), Shafali Verma 64* (33), Smriti Mandhana 32 (34); Olinda Chare 1/58 |
Toss and Team News
Zimbabwe’s stand-in captain Nomvelo Sibanda won the toss and elected to bat first, with regular skipper Josephine Nkomo ruled out due to a niggle. Sibanda said her side wanted to put runs on the board and build scoreboard pressure. India captain Smriti Mandhana admitted she would have liked to bat first as well, but was content to chase with the target in front of her.
The match was played on a red-soil surface at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi — different from the black soil India used during the WPL at the same venue. India handed an ODI debut to Jintimani Kalita, who replaced Renuka Singh Thakur in the squad after the senior seamer was ruled out of the ODI series. India fielded Smriti Mandhana (captain), Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Shree Charani, Jintimani Kalita, Sayali Satghare and Kranti Gaud.
How Zimbabwe Were Bowled Out for 197
Zimbabwe’s innings never found a gear. Beloved Biza anchored the top order with a patient 62 off 92 balls, hitting 5 fours and giving the visitors their only fifty of the innings. Modester Mupachikwa added 25, but around them the Indian bowlers kept striking at regular intervals.
Charani’s left-arm spin was the defining weapon — 3 maidens in her 4/23 stifled Zimbabwe through the middle overs. Gaud’s pace (3/42) broke the lower order, while Deepti Sharma’s 2/44 and Shafali Verma’s 1/28 ensured there was no late-innings recovery. Zimbabwe were dismissed for 197 in 49.5 overs, managing just short of their full quota.
| Zimbabwe Batting | Runs | Balls | Fours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beloved Biza | 62 | 92 | 5 |
| Modester Mupachikwa | 25 | — | — |
| Total | 197 all out | 49.5 ov | — |
India Women’s Bowling: Shree Charani’s Four-Wicket Masterclass
The pick of the Indian bowlers was left-arm spinner Shree Charani, who produced a match-defining spell of 4/23 in her 10 overs, including three maidens. She was backed up superbly by seamer Kranti Gaud, who claimed 3/42 in her full quota of 10 overs, and senior all-rounder Deepti Sharma, who returned 2/44 in 9.5 overs.
Shafali Verma chipped in with 1/28 in 8 overs, while Sayali Satghare (0/33 in 7) and debutant Jintimani Kalita (0/23 in 5) kept the pressure on. Zimbabwe never managed to build any momentum, losing wickets at regular intervals.
For Zimbabwe, Beloved Biza top-scored with a fighting 62 off 92 balls, studded with 5 fours, while Modester Mupachikwa contributed 25. But no other batter could convert a start, and the innings folded for 197 in 49.5 overs.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shree Charani | 10 | 23 | 4 |
| Kranti Gaud | 10 | 42 | 3 |
| Deepti Sharma | 9.5 | 44 | 2 |
| Shafali Verma | 8 | 28 | 1 |
| Sayali Satghare | 7 | 33 | 0 |
| Jintimani Kalita | 5 | 23 | 0 |
Pratika Rawal’s Unbeaten Century Powers India Home
India’s chase was a one-sided affair from the very first over. Opener Pratika Rawal played the innings of the day, finishing unbeaten on 100 off 96 balls with 15 fours at a strike rate of 104.17.
Captain Smriti Mandhana gave the innings early impetus with 32 off 34 balls (4 fours) before falling to Olinda Chare, caught by Beloved Biza. That was Zimbabwe’s only success of the innings. Shafali Verma then launched a breathtaking counter-attack, smashing 64* off just 33 balls with 5 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate of 193.94.
The unbeaten partnership between Rawal and Shafali Verma never gave Zimbabwe an opening, and India completed the chase in 27.1 overs — winning by 9 wickets with 137 balls remaining. It was a statement victory in the historic first-ever women’s ODI between India and Zimbabwe.
| India Batting | Runs | Balls | 4s/6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pratika Rawal (not out) | 100 | 96 | 15/0 | 104.17 |
| Smriti Mandhana (c Biza b Chare) | 32 | 34 | 4/0 | 94.12 |
| Shafali Verma (not out) | 64 | 33 | 5/4 | 193.94 |
| Total | 200/1 | 27.1 ov | — | — |
Key Turning Points of the 1st ODI
- Shree Charani’s early strikes: Her 4/23 broke the backbone of Zimbabwe’s innings and ensured the visitors never crossed 200 despite batting first.
- Beloved Biza’s lone fight: Biza’s 62 off 92 was the only innings of substance for Zimbabwe, but with no support, it could not take the total past 197.
- Smriti Mandhana’s quick start: The skipper’s 32 off 34 set the tempo for the chase, removing all scoreboard pressure before she departed.
- Shafali Verma’s assault: Her 33-ball 64* with four sixes turned a comfortable chase into a demolition, ending the game with more than 22 overs left.
Player of the Match
Pratika Rawal’s unbeaten century (100* off 96 balls) was the standout individual performance of the match. No official Player of the Match announcement had been confirmed by sources at the time of publication.
What This Result Means for the IND-W vs ZIM-W ODI Series
India take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series, extending their dominance over Zimbabwe after the 3-0 T20I sweep earlier in the tour. The margin of victory — 9 wickets with 22.5 overs remaining — underlines the gulf between the two sides in the 50-over format.
Zimbabwe will need a drastic improvement with both bat and ball in the 2nd ODI in Vadodara on October 25 to keep the series alive. For India, the victory is a perfect start to the ODI leg, with the bowlers’ discipline and the batters’ intent both on full display.
What’s Next
The 2nd ODI takes place on Sunday, October 25, at the same venue in Vadodara. India will look to seal the series, while Zimbabwe must find answers against India’s spin-heavy attack.
Our IND-W vs ZIM-W 1st ODI prediction picked India Women to win the series opener — that pick was RIGHT. For more context on this tour, see our coverage of the India Women vs Zimbabwe Women 3rd T20I result, where India completed the T20I whitewash in Raipur.