India Women Beat Zimbabwe by 4 Wickets as Debutant Niki Prasad Holds Her Nerve

INDW vs ZIMW 1st T20I: Niki Prasad, Deepti Sharma Script India’s Comeback Win After Early Collapse

Smriti Mandhana began her tenure as India’s full-time T20I captain with a victory, but not before Zimbabwe gave the hosts a major scare in the opening match of the three-game series in Raipur on Friday. Debutant Niki Prasad and Deepti Sharma stepped up under pressure to guide India to a four-wicket win after a dramatic collapse at the top of the order.

India, chasing 115 for victory, slumped to 22 for 4 inside the powerplay as Zimbabwe’s bowlers struck repeatedly. With the innings in danger of falling apart, Niki and Deepti joined forces to produce a match-defining 82-run partnership for the fifth wicket, taking India to 115 for 6 with 4.2 overs to spare. The win gave India a 1-0 lead in the series.

Zimbabwe, who had lost all 18 of their T20I matches that year, came close to recording a major upset. Mandhana started her first game as permanent T20I captain with two boundaries, but her dismissal triggered a succession of wickets that left India struggling.

Zimbabwe Put India Under Pressure

Nyasha Gwanzura led Zimbabwe’s bowling attack, dismissing Mandhana, Anushka Sharma and Shafali Verma with her off-spin. Michelle Mavunga added to India’s problems by removing captain Harmanpreet Kaur. All four dismissals came within the first 19 deliveries, putting Zimbabwe firmly in contention.

India needed a substantial partnership to stabilise the chase, and Deepti and Niki delivered just that. Deepti adopted an attacking approach, hitting eight boundaries in her 49 off 37 balls. Niki, meanwhile, showed impressive composure on her international debut, supporting the senior batter while keeping the required target within reach.

Their 63-ball stand transformed the contest. Deepti missed a half-century by just one run, but Niki remained unbeaten on 39 off 35 deliveries and finished the match with a boundary in the 16th over.

Gwanzura ended with figures of 3 for 18, but Zimbabwe could not find the breakthrough needed to prevent India’s recovery.

Niki Prasad Impresses in Her First International Appearance

Niki said she entered the middle prepared for the challenge and understood that her responsibility was to guide India to victory.

“I think I was prepared well. I knew when I had to walk in, I had to just get the game through and that is what I did,” she said.

The debutant explained that she and Deepti prioritised building a partnership before identifying the right moments to attack.

“We were talking about building a partnership. Once we got that partnership, we started to decide which bowler to attack and where to take the risk.”

She also highlighted the importance of staying patient and playing according to the merits of each delivery.

Discussing the conditions in Raipur, Niki said dew made the ball travel faster, while the pitch became slower and offered less bounce as the match progressed. She added that adapting to these changing conditions helped the pair maintain control of the chase.

“Definitely, there was a lot of dew because of which, the ball travelling fast. Also, the wicket started slowing down and it started staying low. But we adapted well. Me and Deepti di adapted well to the conditions,” she said.

Niki expressed happiness at contributing to the victory and said she hoped to build on the performance in future matches.

“I think I am really happy that I was able to get the game through and build that partnership with Deepti di. It is just the start. I want to keep playing the same way and win many more games for India.”

She also praised Deepti’s aggressive batting, explaining that the senior player’s approach helped her gain confidence.

“She played brilliantly. The way she attacked the bowlers. She was not letting the bowlers get onto her. Looking at that, even I had a lot of confidence to play my shots,” Niki added.

Record-Breaking Partnership for India

Niki’s unbeaten 39 was among the highest scores by an Indian woman on her T20I debut. Rumeli Dhar holds the record with an unbeaten 66 against England in Derby in 2006, followed by Amanjot Kaur’s 41 not out against South Africa in KuGumpo City in 2023.

Niki’s score matched Mandhana’s unbeaten 39 against Bangladesh in Vadodara in 2013. Jemimah Rodrigues scored 37 against South Africa in Potchefstroom in 2018.

The partnership between Niki and Deepti also set a new Indian record for the highest fifth-wicket stand or lower in women’s T20Is. Their 82-run partnership surpassed the previous best of 77, recorded by Mithali Raj and Anuja Patil against Sri Lanka in Ranchi in 2016.

Among full-member nations, the stand was the second-highest fifth-wicket partnership in a women’s T20I after a team had lost four wickets for fewer than 20 runs. New Zealand’s Sophie Devine and Maddy Green hold the top position with a 159-run stand against England in Canterbury in 2026.

Other partnerships in this category include the West Indies’ Deandra Dottin and Stacy-Ann King, who put on 72 against South Africa in Durban in 2016; England’s Amy Jones and Heather Knight, who added 67 against Pakistan in Edgbaston in 2024; and Nat Sciver-Brunt and Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who shared a 64-run stand against Australia in North Sydney in 2017.

Sharne Mayers Powers Zimbabwe to 114 for 5

Earlier, Zimbabwe made a steady start after being asked to bat first, reaching 60 for 1 at the halfway stage. Kelis Ndhlovu anchored the innings with 42 off 44 deliveries before India’s bowlers slowed the scoring during the middle overs.

Sharne Mayers provided the late impetus, remaining unbeaten on 43 from 33 balls to help Zimbabwe finish at 114 for 5.

World No. 1 N Shree Charani returned economical figures of 1 for 14, while Nandani Sharma claimed two wickets in the final over to finish with 2 for 11.

Zimbabwe’s bowlers carried that momentum into the chase. Gwanzura’s three wickets and Mavunga’s breakthrough against Harmanpreet left India in trouble, raising hopes of a victory that would have ended their long run of defeats.

However, the visitors were unable to dismiss either Deepti or Niki during their crucial partnership.

Mandhana Gets a Winning Start as Captain

Zimbabwe’s performance will offer encouragement despite the defeat. Their bowlers exposed India’s top-order vulnerability, and a larger total might have made the chase considerably more challenging.

For India, the result highlighted both the need for greater stability at the top and the importance of experienced players supporting younger teammates in difficult situations.

Deepti’s attacking 49 and Niki’s calm, unbeaten 39 ensured that Mandhana’s first match as full-time T20I captain ended in victory. India now hold a 1-0 advantage in the series, with Niki’s debut performance emerging as one of the biggest positives from the opening encounter.