Smriti, Shafali Storm Raipur as India Crush Zimbabwe to Seal Series
Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma dominate as India Women crush Zimbabwe by 9 wickets to win the T20I series in Raipur.
In a display of sheer batting dominance, the Indian women's cricket team secured a commanding nine-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in the second T20I in Raipur on Sunday. Led by the explosive pairing of skipper Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, India chased down the target in just 8.5 overs, officially clinching the three-match T20I series 2-0 with one game still remaining.
Zimbabwe Struggle Against Indian Bowling Attack
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Zimbabwe found themselves in early trouble. The Indian bowlers were disciplined and lethal, ripping through the top order to leave Zimbabwe reeling at 30/3 within the first 8.1 overs.
A fighting partnership between Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano and captain Josephine Nkomo provided some stability. Mugeri-Tiripano scored 34 off 32 balls, including five boundaries, while Nkomo remained unbeaten on 27 from 35 balls. Together, they shared a 45-run stand for the fourth wicket, helping Zimbabwe reach a modest total of 102/8 in their allotted 20 overs.
The bowling effort was a collective success for India:
- Niki Prasad: 2/7 in two overs
- Kranti Gaud: 1/15 in four overs
- Deepti Sharma: 1/13 in three overs
- Shree Charani and Nandni Sharma: One wicket each
A Record-Breaking Chase
The chase was less of a contest and more of a statement. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma tore into the Zimbabwean attack, racing to 50 runs in just 4.3 overs. The fifth over was particularly brutal, as Mandhana smashed Nyasha Gwanzura for five boundaries. The onslaught continued in the following over, with Shafali punishing Michelle Mavunga with two fours and a towering six.
Shafali Verma was the star of the show, reaching her ninth fifty-plus score of 2026 in a blistering 24 balls. Her innings of 55 off 25 balls included six fours and four sixes before she was eventually dismissed by Beloved Biza.
Smriti Mandhana remained unbeaten on 47 from 25 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes, finishing the match with a flourish—a six in the 8.5th over—to seal the win. Anushka Sharma remained 1* not out.
History Made in 2026
This victory wasn't just about the series win; it was about rewriting the record books. India Women recorded their 17th T20I win of 2026 (across 26 matches), marking their most successful calendar year in terms of victories, surpassing their previous best of 16 wins in 2018.
The Mandhana-Shafali Era
The partnership between Mandhana and Shafali has reached unprecedented heights this year:
- Most 50+ Stands: Their 96-run partnership was their ninth 50-plus stand of the year, the most by any batting pair in women's T20Is in a single calendar year.
- 1000-Run Milestone: They became the first pair (at any wicket) to aggregate over 1,000 runs together in a calendar year in Women's T20Is.
Additionally, Shafali Verma continues to dominate the statistics. Already holding the record for the most runs in a calendar year in women's T20Is (922 runs in 26 innings), she has now surpassed Mandhana for the most fifty-plus scores in a calendar year, tallying nine such scores compared to the skipper's eight.