India Women vs Zimbabwe Women Fantasy Prediction, Fantasy Tips and Preview — 1st T20I, Zimbabwe Women Tour of India 2026

Match Details: IND W vs ZIM W Fantasy Team

Match: India Women vs Zimbabwe Women, 1st T20I

Series: Zimbabwe Women Tour of India 2026

Date: Friday, 16 October 2026

Time: 7:00 PM IST

Venue: Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur

This is the first match of a three game T20I series, followed by three ODIs in Vadodara. It is also Smriti Mandhana’s first series as India’s full time captain, after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down from the captaincy on 6 October. Harmanpreet is still in the squad as a batter.

India come in after winning gold at the Asian Games. Zimbabwe are on their first tour of India.

Recent Form

India Women (Asian Games 2026):

• 22 Sep 2026, Final: India 216/3 beat Sri Lanka 69 by 147 runs. Smriti Mandhana 79 off 45, Richa Ghosh 49 not out off 22, Shafali Verma 48 off 29. Deepti Sharma took 3 wickets.
• 20 Sep 2026, Semi final: India 195/4 beat Bangladesh 81 (15.4 overs) by 114 runs. Shafali Verma made her first T20I hundred. Deepti Sharma took 3/7 and Nandni Sharma 3/25.
• 18 Sep 2026, Quarter final: India 59/2 in 5 overs beat Japan 57.

Zimbabwe Women (vs West Indies, at home):

• 7 Oct 2026, 3rd T20I: West Indies 143/2 (17 overs) beat Zimbabwe 142/6 by 8 wickets. Kelis Ndhlovu 63 off 48.
• 5 Oct 2026, 2nd T20I: West Indies 108/2 (9.1 overs) beat Zimbabwe 106/7 by 8 wickets.
• 27 Sep 2026, 2nd ODI: Zimbabwe beat West Indies by 4 wickets. Nyasha Gwanzura took 4/33. This was Zimbabwe’s first ever win in the ICC Women’s Championship.

West Indies won the T20I series 3-0.

Series Score

This is the first match of the series, so it is 0-0.

IND W vs ZIM W Head To Head

Crex shows no earlier T20I meeting between India Women and Zimbabwe Women. This is Zimbabwe Women’s first tour of India.

IND W vs ZIM W Squads

India Women: Smriti Mandhana (C), Shafali Verma (VC), Niki Prasad, Harmanpreet Kaur, Anushka Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), G Kamalini (WK), Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Shree Charani, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Jintimani Kalita, Minnu Mani

India team news: Jemimah Rodrigues is out with a hamstring injury. Bharti Fulmali and Shreyanka Patil played the Asian Games final but are not in this squad. Renuka Singh Thakur and Radha Yadav are also not in the squad.

Zimbabwe Women: Josephine Nkomo (C), Beloved Biza, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Kelis Ndhlovu, Michelle Mavunga, Francisca Chipare, Olinder Chare, Kudzai Chigora, Nyasha Gwanzura, Nomvelo Sibanda, Loryn Phiri, Chiedza Dhururu (WK), Modester Mupachikwa (WK), Tendai Makusha, Sharne Mayers

Zimbabwe team news: Zimbabwe kept the same squad that played West Indies. Christine Mutasa, who made 24 not out in the 3rd T20I, is not in this squad.

Pitch Report

Raipur usually has a flat pitch with true bounce, good for batting. The boundaries are bigger than at many Indian grounds, so spinners and slower bowlers can still do a job. With a 7 PM start, dew is likely in the second innings, which makes it harder for the bowling side to grip the ball.

For fantasy, load up on India’s top order batters. India’s spinners, Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani, are good picks too, since they have taken wickets in every big game lately. Expect the toss winner to bowl first because of the dew.

Weather Report

Mid October in Raipur is usually warm and dry, around 30°C in the day and cooler in the evening. Rain is not common at this time of year, so a full game is expected. Dew should come in later in the night.

Probable Playing XIs

India Women: Smriti Mandhana (C), Shafali Verma, G Kamalini, Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh (WK), Deepti Sharma, Anushka Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Shree Charani, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud

Zimbabwe Women: Kelis Ndhlovu, Chiedza Dhururu (WK), Beloved Biza, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Josephine Nkomo (C), Michelle Mavunga, Tendai Makusha, Nyasha Gwanzura, Loryn Phiri, Kudzai Chigora, Nomvelo Sibanda

India have to make two changes from the Asian Games final XI, since Bharti Fulmali and Shreyanka Patil are not in this squad. Final XIs come at the toss.

Top Fantasy Picks

• Smriti Mandhana (IND, batter): 79 off 45 in the Asian Games final and 37 off 19 in the semi final. India’s new captain is in top form.
• Shafali Verma (IND, all rounder): A T20I hundred in the semi final, then 48 off 29 and 2 wickets in the final. Points with bat and ball.
• Deepti Sharma (IND, all rounder): 3/7 in the semi final and 3 wickets in the final. Also bats in the middle order.
• Richa Ghosh (IND, wicketkeeper): 49 not out off 22 in the final. Hits big at the end and gets catch points behind the stumps.
• Shree Charani (IND, bowler): 2 wickets in both the semi final and the final. A left arm spinner who keeps taking wickets.
• Kelis Ndhlovu (ZIM, batter): 63 off 48 in the 3rd T20I against West Indies and Zimbabwe’s top run scorer in that series. Their best batting pick.
• Beloved Biza (ZIM, all rounder): 21 with the bat and 1/28 in four overs in the 3rd T20I. Bowls her full quota.

IND W vs ZIM W Fantasy Team: Small Leagues

• Wicketkeeper: Richa Ghosh
• Batters: Smriti Mandhana (Vc), Harmanpreet Kaur, Kelis Ndhlovu
• All rounders: Deepti Sharma (C), Shafali Verma, Beloved Biza
• Bowlers: Shree Charani, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Nyasha Gwanzura

Captain: Deepti Sharma. An all rounder who took 3/7 in the semi final and 3 wickets in the final. She bowls four overs and bats too.

Vice captain: Smriti Mandhana. Made 79 and 37 in her last two games and opens the batting.

IND W vs ZIM W Fantasy Team: Grand Leagues

• Wicketkeepers: Richa Ghosh (Vc), G Kamalini
• Batters: Smriti Mandhana, Kelis Ndhlovu
• All rounders: Shafali Verma (C), Deepti Sharma, Anushka Sharma, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano
• Bowlers: Shree Charani, Arundhati Reddy, Michelle Mavunga

Captain: Shafali Verma. An all rounder who hit a hundred in the semi final and made 48 with 2 wickets in the final.

Vice captain: Richa Ghosh. Made 49 not out off 22 in the final and gets keeping points too.

Differentials: G Kamalini bats in the top order and also keeps. Anushka Sharma can bowl and bat lower down. Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano is one of Zimbabwe’s most experienced players and can bat and bowl. Michelle Mavunga took wickets in Zimbabwe’s ODI win over West Indies.

Also Read: Best Fantasy Apps 2026 — Free Contests, Referral Codes and Honest Reviews

Match Prediction

India are much stronger in this match. They have just won the Asian Games with three big wins, and their top order of Mandhana, Shafali and Richa is in great touch. Zimbabwe lost all three T20Is to West Indies and have never played India in a T20I. Kelis Ndhlovu is their main batter, but India’s spinners should be too good for them on this ground. Our pick is India to win.

IND W vs ZIM W Fantasy Team: FAQs

Who will win India Women vs Zimbabwe Women today?
India are the clear favourites. They won the Asian Games gold, while Zimbabwe lost their last T20I series 3-0. We pick India.

What is the IND W vs ZIM W Fantasy prediction?
In small leagues, go with Deepti Sharma as captain and Smriti Mandhana as vice captain. In grand leagues, try Shafali Verma as captain and Richa Ghosh as vice captain.

What is the pitch report for Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium, Raipur?
It is usually a flat batting pitch with true bounce and big boundaries. Dew is likely in a night game, so the team batting second may find it easier.

What is the probable playing XI for India Women vs Zimbabwe Women?
India should be led by Smriti Mandhana, with Shafali Verma, Richa Ghosh, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma in the side. Zimbabwe should be led by Josephine Nkomo with Kelis Ndhlovu at the top. Final XIs come at the toss.

Who are the best captain and vice captain picks for IND W vs ZIM W?
Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma are the best all rounder picks. Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh are strong options based on their Asian Games scores.

What time does India Women vs Zimbabwe Women 1st T20I start?
The match starts at 7:00 PM IST on Friday, 16 October 2026, at Raipur.