Raipur: India sealed the women’s T20I series against Zimbabwe with a game to spare, crushing the visitors by nine wickets in the second match at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium on Sunday, 18 October 2026. Zimbabwe were held to 102 for 8, and openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana knocked off the target in just 8.5 overs.
The result of this India vs Zimbabwe contest gave India an unbeatable lead in the three match series and handed Mandhana her first series win as full time captain. India finished on 104 for 1 with 67 balls left, according to ESPNcricinfo, Sportstar, The Times of India and India Today.
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India vs Zimbabwe 2nd T20I: how the chase unfolded
Shafali set the tone from the first over, hitting Nyasha Gwanzura for a four and a six. Mandhana soon joined in, and by the end of the powerplay India were 76 without loss. ESPNcricinfo noted that the pair made 84 of their 96 runs together in boundaries.
Shafali made 55 off 25 balls, with six fours and four sixes, before holing out to long on in the eighth over. By then India needed only seven more. Mandhana, unbeaten on 47 off 25, finished the game in style with a six, which was a neat contrast to the first T20I, where she fell for nine.
“Shafali doing her thing. In the powerplay, she was whacking. I was happy to give her a single. Whenever my chance came, I took it on as well. That’s the brand of cricket we love to play and we will keep doing that,” Mandhana said at the presentation, as reported by India Today.
Bowlers squeeze Zimbabwe after the toss
Zimbabwe captain Josephine Nkomo won the toss and chose to bat on a slow, grippy surface. At the toss Mandhana had said she wanted her side to be “more disciplined with the ball”, and the bowlers delivered. Kranti Gaud and Nandani Sharma shared the new ball and kept to a tight length.
- Nandani Sharma bowled opener Kelis Ndhlovu for an 11 ball duck.
- Zimbabwe made only 20 for 1 in the powerplay, with their lone boundary coming off the last ball of the sixth over.
- Beloved Biza fell two balls after the powerplay, caught by Harmanpreet Kaur off Deepti Sharma.
- Zimbabwe faced 71 dot balls in all, ESPNcricinfo reported.
Chipo Tiripano and Nkomo then added 45 for the fourth wicket. Tiripano used the reverse sweep well and made 34 off 32 balls, helped by two dropped catches. Nkomo stayed unbeaten on 27 off 35, making sure her side batted out the 20 overs and passed three figures.
Niki Prasad strikes with her first two balls
The stand ended when Mandhana brought on off spinner Niki Prasad in the 15th over. Prasad had Tiripano caught behind by Richa Ghosh with her very first ball in T20Is and then trapped Gwanzura leg before with the next. ESPNcricinfo said she became only the fourth bowler in women’s internationals to take wickets with her first two legitimate deliveries. She finished with 2 for 7.
Mandhana used seven bowlers, and five of them picked up at least one wicket. Two run outs late in the innings added to Zimbabwe’s trouble.
Records for Shafali and the opening pair
The Times of India reported that the fifty was Shafali’s ninth score of 50 or more in women’s T20Is in 2026, the most by any batter in a calendar year. She moved past the eight that Mandhana made in 2024. It was her 22nd half century in the format.
The opening stand was also the ninth partnership of 50 or more for Shafali and Mandhana this year, the most by any pair in a calendar year in women’s T20Is, according to The Times of India and India Today. India Today added that Shafali went past Mandhana for the most sixes by an Indian in women’s T20Is during the innings.
Shafali, named Player of the Match, said consistency had been her focus. “In 2025, when I sat back in my home, I thought what things I can improve. The first thing that came to my mind was consistency,” she said, adding that she had studied how Australian batters go about their innings.
A big turnaround from the series opener
The win looked even more convincing next to the first T20I on Friday. Zimbabwe had made 114 for 5 in that match and then reduced India to 19 for 4 in the chase, before Niki Prasad and Deepti Sharma steadied things with the bat, Sportstar and ESPNcricinfo reported. This time there were no such nerves.
There is still work to do. Sportstar pointed out that India dropped a few simple catches, an issue that goes on the to do list for Mandhana and Munish Bali before the final T20I. After that, the tour moves to Vadodara for the ODI leg.
For readers who want more background, our story on the history of cricket in India traces how the game grew here. You can also read about top cricket players and interesting facts about them, or check our page on live cricket scores and upcoming matches.
FAQ
Who won the India vs Zimbabwe 2nd women’s T20I?
India won by nine wickets in Raipur on 18 October 2026, chasing 103 in 8.5 overs.
Who was Player of the Match?
Shafali Verma, for her 55 off 25 balls.
Has India won the series?
Yes. India lead the three match T20I series 2 to 0 with one game left, and the ODI leg follows in Vadodara.
Sources
- ESPNcricinfo, 18 October 2026: scores, 96 run stand, 84 runs in boundaries, 71 dot balls, Niki Prasad record, first T20I details, Mandhana toss remark.
- Sportstar (The Hindu group), 18 October 2026: series sealed under Mandhana, 67 balls to spare, Niki Prasad maiden wicket, dropped catches, ODI leg in Vadodara.
- The Times of India, 18 October 2026: Shafali Verma ninth 50 plus score of 2026, 22nd T20I fifty, record nine 50 plus stands for the pair, 45 run fourth wicket stand.
- India Today, 18 October 2026: brief scores, Mandhana and Shafali quotes, Player of the Match, most sixes by an Indian in women’s T20Is.
- BCCI match centre, 18 October 2026: scorecard and toss confirmation.