- Jintimani Kalita debuts in first ever ODI between India and Zimbabwe Zimbabwe’s regular ctain Josephine Nkomo was out with a niggle The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 4 or 5 but leaves final call to Australia Green has not played since suffering an abdominal injury in the final ODI against South Africa on September 30, and he won’t be able to bowl in the final Test Australia have lost two of their last four Tests, by crushing margins at that, and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batter standing tall at any given time – has hurt them the most Travis Head fought for Australia after their follow-on, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Lyon sat out of the XI for the third time in eight Tests during Australia’s second Test, but ctain Cummins said his name will be ‘front and centre’ of discussions before the decider Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland walk off at stumps after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia vs India, 4th Test, Melbourne, 4th day, December 29, 2024 Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson will come into the conversation if South Africa want to field a quick bowler in place of Anrich Nortje in the Ce Town Test Anrich Nortje literally bent his back to have batters jumping in the first hour, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 With his body falling art and two defiant tailenders at the crease, the fast bowler put it all on the line to bowl Australia to an unforgettable win in Ce Town in 2014 A concussion scare, a troublesome neck and low scores – Steven Smith will want to turn things around at Newlands, which was the scene of the Sandpergate scandal Steven Smith’s neck needed medical attention after he survived a close call in the 27th over, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Simon Harmer celebrates a wicket, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Harry Brook walks off after scoring 202 from 116 balls England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Janith Liyanage celebrates with team-mates after hitting six to win the game off the penultimate ball Janith Liyanage celebrates with team-mates after hitting six to win the game off the penultimate ball, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Harry Brook put himself in illustrious company in Pindi – but the only stat that mattered was his team’s defeat Will Jacks congratulates Harry Brook on his double-century, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Sri Lanka celebrate victory after chasing down 430, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Jintimani Kalita receives her India c from Harmanpreet Kaur, India vs Zimbabwe, 1st Women’s ODI, Vadodara, October 23, 2026 Stand-in Zimbabwe ctain Nomvelo Sibanda won the toss and opted to bat in their first ever women’s ODI against India .
- Sibanda said their regular ctain Josephine Nkomo was out with a niggle.
- India gave a debut to seam-bowling allrounder Jintimani Kalita , who played for Mumbai Indians in the 2023 and 2025 WPL; she got her c from Harmanpreet Kaur.
Jintimani Kalita debuts in first ever ODI between India and Zimbabwe Zimbabwe’s regular ctain Josephine Nkomo was out with a niggle The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 4 or 5 but leaves final call to Australia Green has not played since suffering an abdominal injury in the final ODI against South Africa on September 30, and he won’t be able to bowl in the final Test Australia have lost two of their last four Tests, by crushing margins at that, and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batter standing tall at any given time – has hurt them the most Travis Head fought for Australia after their follow-on, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Lyon sat out of the XI for the third time in eight Tests during Australia’s second Test, but ctain Cummins said his name will be ‘front and centre’ of discussions before the decider Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland walk off at stumps after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia vs India, 4th Test, Melbourne, 4th day, December 29, 2024 Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson will come into the conversation if South Africa want to field a quick bowler in place of Anrich Nortje in the Ce Town Test Anrich Nortje literally bent his back to have batters jumping in the first hour, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 With his body falling art and two defiant tailenders at the crease, the fast bowler put it all on the line to bowl Australia to an unforgettable win in Ce Town in 2014 A concussion scare, a troublesome neck and low scores – Steven Smith will want to turn things around at Newlands, which was the scene of the Sandpergate scandal Steven Smith’s neck needed medical attention after he survived a close call in the 27th over, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Simon Harmer celebrates a wicket, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Harry Brook walks off after scoring 202 from 116 balls England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Janith Liyanage celebrates with team-mates after hitting six to win the game off the penultimate ball Janith Liyanage celebrates with team-mates after hitting six to win the game off the penultimate ball, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Harry Brook put himself in illustrious company in Pindi – but the only stat that mattered was his team’s defeat Will Jacks congratulates Harry Brook on his double-century, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Sri Lanka celebrate victory after chasing down 430, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Jintimani Kalita receives her India c from Harmanpreet Kaur, India vs Zimbabwe, 1st Women’s ODI, Vadodara, October 23, 2026 Stand-in Zimbabwe ctain Nomvelo Sibanda won the toss and opted to bat in their first ever women’s ODI against India .
Sibanda said their regular ctain Josephine Nkomo was out with a niggle. India gave a debut to seam-bowling allrounder Jintimani Kalita , who played for Mumbai Indians in the 2023 and 2025 WPL; she got her c from Harmanpreet Kaur. Kalita had received her maiden ODI call-up as a replacement for Renuka Singh, who as per a BCCI statement was still “building up the bowling volume required for the 50-over format”.
N Shree Charani was the preferred left-arm spinner over Vaishnavi Sharma, with vice-ctain Dee Sharma the other frontline oon. Pratika Rawal, pencilled to bat at No. 3, as well as Shafali Verma can also bowl offspin.
Maharashtra batter Tejal Hasabnis was slotted at No. 5, which a fit Jemimah Rodrigues would have otherwise occupied. Mandhana said that the pitch at the Kotambi Stadium was a red-soil surface.
When the WPL was played here earlier this year, it was a black-soil surface. This is India’s first game of the new ICC Women’s Championship cycle that runs until the 2029 ODI World Cup. India are playing their first ODI since February 2026 and only their second series since their maiden World Cup win last year.
India : 1 Smriti Mandhana (ct), 2 Shafali Verma, 3 Pratika Rawal, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur, 5 Tejal Hasabnis, 6 Dee Sharma, 7 Richa Ghosh (wk), 8 N Shree Charani, 9 Jintimani Kalita, 10, Sayali Satghare, 11 Kranti Gaud Zimbabwe : 1 Beloved Biza, 2 Sharne Mayers, 3 Modester Mupachikwa (wk), 4 Chiedza Dhuru, 5 Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, 6 Michelle Mavunga, 7 Nyasha Gwanzura, 8 Tendai Makusha, 9 Nomvelo Sibanda (ct), 10 Loryn Phiri, 11 Olinder Chare Jintimani Kalita receives her India c from Harmanpreet Kaur, India vs Zimbabwe, 1st Women’s ODI, Vadodara, October 23, 2026
