IND-W vs ZIM-W 1st ODI Review: Rawal’s Century, Charani’s Four-For Seal Mandhana’s Winning Start
IND-W vs ZIM-W 1st ODI Review: Rawal’s Century, Charani’s Four-For Seal Mandhana’s Winning Start in Vadodara
India Women kicked off the ODI leg of their home series against Zimbabwe with a clinical nine-wicket victory at the Baroda Cricket Stadium in Vadodara. After Shree Charani’s career-best 4/23 helped bowl Zimbabwe out for 197, Pratika Rawal anchored the chase with a brilliant unbeaten 100 off 96 balls. Shafali Verma provided the fireworks with an unbeaten 64 off just 33 balls, as India romped home in 27.1 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Here is the complete review of a dominant performance that gave new ODI captain Smriti Mandhana a winning start.
Pratika Rawal and Shree Charani were the architects of India’s nine-wicket win in Vadodara.
Key Takeaways – Mandhana’s Era Begins with a Win
- 🏏 Mandhana’s First ODI Win as Full-Time Captain: Smriti Mandhana, leading India in an ODI for the first time since her permanent appointment, oversaw a comprehensive nine-wicket victory.Source: CricTracker
- ⭐ Rawal’s Return Century: Playing her first ODI in nearly eight months, Pratika Rawal slammed her third ODI century, an unbeaten 100 off 96 balls with 15 fours. She was named Player of the Match.Source: NDTV Sports
- 🔥 Charani’s Career-Best: Left-arm spinner Shree Charani recorded her career-best ODI figures of 4/23 in 10 overs, including three maidens, to derail Zimbabwe’s innings.Source: CricTracker
- 💪 Shafali’s Explosive Finishing Act: Promoted to No. 3, Shafali Verma smashed an unbeaten 64 off just 33 balls (5 fours, 4 sixes) to seal the chase in style.Source: News18
- 🎯 Kranti Gaud’s Support: Pacer Kranti Gaud provided excellent support with 3/42, including a stunning caught-and-bowled dismissal of Loryn Phiri.Source: ESPNcricinfo
📋 Match Overview
- Match: India Women vs Zimbabwe Women, 1st ODI, Zimbabwe Women tour of India, 2026
- Date: October 23, 2026 (Friday)
- Venue: Baroda Cricket Association Stadium, Vadodara
- Toss: Zimbabwe Women won the toss and elected to bat firstSource: ESPNcricinfo
- Result: India Women won by 9 wickets (with 137 balls remaining)
- Player of the Match: Pratika Rawal (100* off 96 balls)Source: News18
- Series: India Women lead the 3-match series 1-0
📊 Full Scorecard – IND-W vs ZIM-W 1st ODI
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe Women – 197 all out (49.5 overs)
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loryn Phiri | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Modester Mupachikwa (wk) | 25 | 35 | 4 | 0 | 71.42 |
| Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano | 21 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 70.00 |
| Beloved Biza | 62 | 92 | 5 | 0 | 67.39 |
| Sharne Mayers | 16 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 72.72 |
| Chiedza Dhururu | 9 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 45.00 |
| Nyasha Gwanzura | 13 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 56.52 |
| Michelle Mavunga | 29 | 31 | 2 | 1 | 93.54 |
| Olinder Chare | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Tendai Makusha | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Nomvelo Sibanda | 1* | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
Extras: 12 (lb 4, w 8) · Total: 197 all out (RR: 3.95) · Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Phiri, 1.6 ov), 2-46 (Mupachikwa, 11.2 ov), 3-55 (Mugeri-Tiripano, 14.5 ov), 4-70 (Mayers, 17.6 ov), 5-113 (Gwanzura, 27.3 ov), 6-140 (Dhururu, 35.1 ov), 7-180 (Mavunga, 42.3 ov), 8-183 (Biza, 44.1 ov), 9-190 (Chare, 47.2 ov), 10-197 (Makusha, 49.5 ov)Source: ESPNcricinfo
🇮🇳 India Women Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shree Charani | 10 | 3 | 23 | 4 | 2.30 |
| Kranti Gaud | 10 | 0 | 42 | 3 | 4.20 |
| Deepti Sharma | 10 | 1 | 28 | 2 | 2.80 |
| Sayali Satghare | 9 | 1 | 34 | 0 | 3.77 |
| Jintimani Kalita | 6 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 6.33 |
| Shafali Verma | 4.5 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 5.37 |
Source: ESPNcricinfoSource: ESPNcricinfo
🇮🇳 India Women – 200/1 (27.1 overs)
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana (c) | 32 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 94.11 |
| Pratika Rawal | 100* | 96 | 15 | 0 | 104.16 |
| Shafali Verma | 64* | 33 | 5 | 4 | 193.93 |
Extras: 4 (lb 1, w 3) · Total: 200/1 (RR: 7.37) · Fall of wickets: 1-94 (Mandhana, 15.3 ov)Source: ESPNcricinfo
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe Women Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nomvelo Sibanda | 4 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 7.75 |
| Olinder Chare | 8 | 0 | 58 | 1 | 7.25 |
| Tendai Makusha | 6 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 7.00 |
| Nyasha Gwanzura | 5 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 5.40 |
| Michelle Mavunga | 4.1 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 9.84 |
📝 Match Report – How India Dominated in Vadodara
Zimbabwe’s Innings: Charani’s Spin Web
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat, hoping to post a competitive total on a batting-friendly surface. However, their innings got off to a disastrous start when Kranti Gaud dismissed Loryn Phiri with a stunning caught-and-bowled effort in the second over. Modester Mupachikwa (25) and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano (21) steadied the ship briefly, but Shree Charani’s introduction changed the game. She dismissed Mupachikwa with a flighted delivery and trapped Mugeri-Tiripano LBW with a sharp turner.Source: ESPNcricinfo
Beloved Biza held the innings together with a gritty 62 off 92 balls, but she lacked support from the other end. Charani continued to pick up wickets at regular intervals, finishing with a career-best 4/23 in her 10 overs. Kranti Gaud provided excellent support with 3/42, and Deepti Sharma chipped in with two late wickets. Zimbabwe were eventually bowled out for 197 in 49.5 overs, a total that always looked 50 runs short on a good pitch.Source: CricTracker
India’s Chase: Rawal’s Anchor, Shafali’s Blitz
Chasing 198, India got off to a flying start. Smriti Mandhana (32) and Pratika Rawal added 94 runs for the first wicket, with Rawal playing the role of the aggressor. Mandhana fell in the 16th over, holing out to long-on off Olinder Chare. That brought Shafali Verma to the crease, and the vice-captain wasted no time. She smashed an unbeaten 64 off just 33 balls, including four sixes and five fours. Her partnership with Rawal yielded 106 runs off just 70 balls, as India completed the chase in 27.1 overs.Source: News18
⭐ Key Performances
📖 Records & Milestones – The Vadodara Opener
- First-Ever ODI Between India and Zimbabwe Women: This was the first-ever 50-over match between the two sides.Source: ESPNcricinfo
- Pratika Rawal’s Third ODI Century: Her unbeaten 100 was her third century in ODI cricket.Source: CricTracker
- Shree Charani’s Career-Best Bowling: Her 4/23 is now her best bowling figures in ODIs.Source: CricTracker
- Smriti Mandhana’s First ODI Win as Captain: She began her full-time ODI captaincy tenure with a victory.Source: CricTracker
- Jintimani Kalita’s Debut: The young pacer made her ODI debut in this match.Source: ESPNcricinfo
🗣️ Expert Reactions – What They Said
🗣️ Senior Journalist’s Verdict – A Complete Team Performance
My Take: India’s Depth and Dominance on Full Display
This was as comprehensive a victory as you will see in ODI cricket. India were without regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur, yet they never looked troubled. The bowling attack, led by the brilliant Shree Charani, was disciplined and ruthless. The batting, anchored by Pratika Rawal and finished by Shafali Verma, was clinical.
What stood out was the adaptability. Charani, Kranti Gaud, and Deepti Sharma shared nine wickets between them, showing that India’s bowling depth is formidable. In the batting department, Rawal’s return to form is a massive boost for a team that has sometimes relied too heavily on its top order.
Zimbabwe, to their credit, fought hard. Beloved Biza’s 62 was a lone hand, but she showed the kind of application that will serve her well in the future. However, the gap between the two sides was evident.
With the T20I series already won 3-0, India are now on the verge of a clean sweep across formats. The second ODI on Sunday provides another opportunity for the fringe players to stake their claim. But for now, the focus should be on celebrating a captain’s winning start and a performance that underlined India’s dominance in women’s cricket.
— CricLive Editorial Team
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Who won the 1st ODI between India Women and Zimbabwe Women?
India Women won by 9 wickets, chasing down 198 in 27.1 overs.Source: CricTracker
2. Who was the Player of the Match?
Pratika Rawal was named Player of the Match for her unbeaten 100 off 96 balls.Source: NDTV Sports
3. What were Shree Charani’s figures?
Shree Charani took her career-best figures of 4/23 in 10 overs, including three maidens.Source: CricTracker
4. When is the 2nd ODI?
The second ODI will be played on Sunday, October 25, at the same venue in Vadodara.Source: CricTracker
