Clean Sweep Quest: India Women Opt to Bat Against Zimbabwe
India Women win the toss and choose to bat first in the final T20I against Zimbabwe, aiming for a 3-0 series clean sweep in Raipur.
The Women in Blue are eyeing a perfect finish to their series as India Women won the toss and elected to bat first in the third and final T20I against Zimbabwe Women. The clash is taking place at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium on Tuesday, with India looking to maintain their dominant form.
Eyeing a 3-0 Series Sweep
India enters this final encounter with the series already firmly in their grasp. Having secured an unassailable 2-0 lead, the Indian side is playing with confidence after a four-wicket victory in the opening match and a commanding nine-wicket win in the second T20I. The goal for the final match is clear: a complete clean sweep.
Strategy: Giving Middle Order More Game Time
Captain Smriti Mandhana revealed that the decision to bat first was a strategic move to benefit the squad's development. She emphasized the need for the middle-order batters to spend more time in the middle to gain valuable experience.
“We will bat first today as we want more game time for the middle order. In T20 cricket, we have to play positively,” Mandhana stated.
While the captain didn't set a rigid target, she hinted at a high-scoring ambition, noting that the team is aiming for a total of 180 plus. Mandhana also highlighted the explosive potential of the lineup, mentioning that with players like Shafali Verma, the team expects to see a significant number of sixes.
Squad Changes and Zimbabwe's Outlook
In terms of team composition, India has made a slight change to the playing XI. Sree Charani is resting for this match, making way for Prema Rawat.
On the other side, Zimbabwe captain Josephine Nkomo admitted that her team would have preferred to bat first. Despite the series result being decided, Nkomo is focused on improvement and a strong performance in the power-plays. She stressed the importance of strike rotation and a positive mindset, stating that the team is committed to hard work and learning across all formats to secure a consolation win.
The Playing XIs
India Women:
- Shafali Verma
- Smriti Mandhana (c)
- Anushka Sharma
- Harmanpreet Kaur
- Niki Prasad
- Richa Ghosh (w)
- Deepti Sharma
- Arundhati Reddy
- Nandani Sharma
- Kranti Gaud
- Prema Rawat
Zimbabwe Women:
- Kelis Ndhlovu
- Beloved Biza
- Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano
- Sharne Mayers
- Josephine Nkomo (c)
- Nyasha Gwanzura
- Modester Mupachikwa (w)
- Kudzai Chigora
- Loryn Phiri
- Tendai Makusha
- Nomvelo Sibanda