India defeated Zimbabwe by 92 runs in Raipur on Tuesday, securing a 3-0 sweep in the T20I series that began on October 16. The series provided Smriti Mandhana with her first assignment as India's full-time captain, offering opportunities to test combinations and player roles ahead of major tournaments.
During the series, Mandhana used the matches to rotate her batting order strategically. After the opening match saw the top order struggle and the second match left the middle order without sufficient batting opportunities, the captain opted to bat first in the third match to give the middle order game time. This rotation strategy ensured different batting units received meaningful time in the middle across the series.
"In the first match we could not get going again - top order as well - then in the second match the [middle order] did not get a opportunity to bat so it was it's always good to have some game time and always good to have some runs behind your back," Mandhana said as quoted by Cricinfo.
Building bowling depth for the Champions Trophy
The Zimbabwe series showcased India's bowling resources across multiple players. Nandani Sharma took six wickets across the series, Kranti Gaud claimed three, and Niki Prasad took three. Mandhana called upon a total of six individual bowlers throughout the three matches, demonstrating the range of options available to the captain.
Niki Prasad and Shafali Verma were among those given opportunities to bowl during the series. Shafali Verma has been contributing with off-spin and has been bowling for Haryana since 2021, adding another dimension to India's bowling attack. The exposure to different match situations and conditions proved valuable for the squad's preparation.
"It [bowling options] is it is looking good for sure. We were all looking in a way where dew is playing its part again. We're going to have the next three months going ahead there's going to be a lot of dew till we approach the Champions Trophy so the kind of combination we need and the bowlers - the more the merrier. I'm really happy and pleased with the way Niki, Shafali, everyone chipped in," Mandhana said.
The inaugural six-team Women's Champions Trophy will be played in Mumbai and Vadodara from February 14 to 28 next year. Conditions during the Zimbabwe series, particularly the presence of dew in evening matches, are likely to mirror what sides will face during the Champions Trophy. Mandhana's rotation strategy and focus on bowling depth during the series demonstrated India's preparation for the tournament ahead.
