India's women's team suffered an early batting collapse against Zimbabwe on October 16, 2026, at Raipur, losing four wickets for just 19 runs in the opening overs of their chase. Zimbabwe had posted 114 for 5 in their innings, with Sharne Mayers scoring 43 not out and Kelis Ndhlovu contributing 42. India's top-order batters, including captain Smriti Mandhana, fell quickly to Zimbabwe's bowling attack, leaving the hosts in a precarious position early in their pursuit.
Veda Krishnamurthy, speaking after the match, reflected on the challenges India's batters faced against Zimbabwe's slower bowling attack. She acknowledged that the early wickets exposed gaps in preparation, particularly given the different pace and conditions compared to India's usual opponents like Australia and England.
"India lost a couple of wickets early on; it takes time to adjust to slower bowlers, and that is exactly what happened. The batters had been practising at a certain pace to prepare for the level of competition they face globally, particularly against teams like Australia and England. However, this game was an eye-opener for the Indian batters. There is no taking away from the class of the top-order players, but I believe they will be much better prepared in the next game," Krishnamurthy told JioStar after the match.
Partnership between Deepti and Prasad steadied the chase
The turning point came through a fifth-wicket partnership between Deepti Sharma and Niki Prasad, who combined to add 82 runs off 63 balls. Deepti scored 49 off 37 balls, falling one run short of a half-century, while Prasad remained unbeaten on 39 off 35 balls. India ultimately chased down the target in 15.4 overs, winning by 4 wickets with 26 balls remaining. The partnership proved crucial in steadying India's innings after the early collapse.
Krishnamurthy praised the quality of the partnership and the tactical approach both batters adopted. She highlighted how Deepti's experience and aggressive intent created the platform for Prasad to settle into the innings and build her confidence during a critical phase of the chase.
"It was an excellent partnership. You needed someone with that experience to come in, especially when the wickets fell. Deepti Sharma is a very versatile batter, and the left-right combination also unsettles bowlers. The attacking intent Deepti brought allowed Niki Prasad to take her time and understand the situation," Krishnamurthy said.
Deepti's willingness to take on the Zimbabwe bowlers proved instrumental in shifting momentum. Krishnamurthy noted that both Deepti and Prasad had accumulated significant domestic cricket experience in recent years, which equipped them to handle the pressure and adapt to the conditions they faced.
"Deepti took the pressure on herself and attacked the bowlers, making it easier for Niki to get going in the middle overs. Both Deepti Sharma and Niki Prasad have played a lot of domestic cricket over the last couple of years, which also helps them adjust to bowlers and conditions like these," Krishnamurthy said.
Niki Prasad's composure stood out despite making her T20I debut at just 20 years old. Krishnamurthy drew parallels to Prasad's Women's Premier League debut, where she had similarly walked into a challenging situation and delivered an impressive performance under pressure.
"Niki Prasad was brilliant as a batter and as a cricketer. She is only 20, but she has the composure of a much more mature and experienced player. That is why she has been able to handle pressure and deliver an innings like this. It takes me back to her WPL debut as well, where she walked in during a very similar situation and made an impressive start." Krishnamurthy said.
India took the lead in the three-match series with this victory. The second T20I was scheduled for Sunday in Raipur as the teams prepared to continue their contest.
