India may not have played the format for close to eight months, but they showed little signs of rustiness in their first-ever ODI against Zimbabwe. The current ODI world champions, playing only their second series since their maiden World Cup triumph in November 2025, brushed the tourists aside with ease at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara for a nine-wicket win.

N Shree Charani and Kranti Gaud shared seven wickets between them to bowl Zimbabwe out for 197 before Pratika Rawal led the chase with her third ODI century as India romped home with 22.5 overs to spare. Rawal finished on an unbeaten 100 off 96 balls while Shafali Verma blitzed her way to an unbeaten 64 off only 33 balls.

Rawal reunited with Smriti Mandhana, who was leading in an ODI for the first time since being appointed full-time captain and got India off to a flying start. She was aided by some wayward bowling - Nomvelo Sibanda, standing in for Josephine Nkomo, who was out with a niggle, strayed on the pads repeatedly. India galloped to 48 for 0 in five overs before the spinners started to get the dot balls in.

Rawal, who was on 37 off 29 at one point, slowed down a little and got to her fifty off her 54th ball. She added 94 for the opening wicket with Mandhana, who holed out to long-on in a bid to take on Olinder Chare's legspin. Then Shafali, batting at No. 3 for only the second time in ODIs, raised India's scoring rate. She raced to fifty off just 29 balls despite not getting the benefit of the field restrictions of the first ten overs. She was particularly severe on Chare, scoring 43 off 19 against her. Such was her breakneck scoring speed that it left Rawal just enough runs eventually to complete her century.

With Rawal on 89 and India 32 away, Shafali hit three sixes in an over against Chare that went for 20. Rawal then hit Tendai Makusha for successive fours in the 27th over to bring up her century. Shafali finished the game with a lofted hit over offspinner Nyasha Gwanzura's head to complete India's win.

Zimbabwe had a mixed start to their day. After winning the toss and batting first, they lost opener Loryn Phiri early. Gaud surprised her with a bumper and took a diving catch off her own bowling after she top-edged a pull. Modester Mupachikwa and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano then cashed in on any width on offer to help Zimbabwe record 46 for 1 in the first powerplay.

Mupachikwa started fluently before losing her way. She benefited from a dropped catch early on when Deepti Sharma let one slip off Jintimani Kalita, on her international debut. Mupachikwa was on 24 off 31 at one point before struggling to get Shree Charani and Deepti away. Eventually she tried to hit the left-arm spinner out and miscued to mid-off for 25 off 43.

Beloved Biza then kept the scorecard ticking through the middle overs. But she didn't get the support at the other end. Gwanzura hung around for a little before belting one straight at Shree Charani. The pair added 43 off 57 balls with Biza doing the heavy lifting. At 140 for 6 at the start of the 36th over, it looked as if Zimbabwe would fold cheaply. Michelle Mavunga then injected some momentum with a cameo of 29 off 23. She lofted the first ball she faced over extra cover and also picked the bones out off a Sayali Satghare slower one to send it sailing over deep midwicket.

But Shree Charani had her caught by Kalita, who became only the second woman from Assam to play an ODI for India, at long-on to end that challenge. In the interim, Biza completed her fourth ODI half-century, and at 17 years and 291 days, became only the second-youngest woman behind England's Sarah Taylor to do so against India. In an attempt to score some quick runs towards the end, Biza hit Gaud to cover for her third wicket.

Since Mandhana led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their second WPL title earlier this year, the Kotambi Stadium went from being a black-soil pitch to a red-soil one. India not only revelled in those conditions but also ensured an easy start to Mandhana's ODI captaincy since assuming the role full-time.