Smriti Mandhana takes the reins as India face Zimbabwe in T20I today

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Captain leads team in in Raipur’s first women’s international match; female spectators get free entry for all three T20Is

Chandigarh: India take on Zimbabwe in the opening T20 International on Friday, with captain Smriti Mandhana beginning her stint as the team’s leader on the field after being appointed to the role earlier. The match will also mark the first women’s international cricket fixture at Raipur’s Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium.

The three-match T20I series will be played in Raipur from October 16 to 20, followed by three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in Vadodara from October 23 to 28. India will look to make a strong start at home under Mandhana, with experienced players and young talent in the squad.

Female spectators will get free entry for all three T20Is following a suggestion by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai. Office-bearers of the Chhattisgarh State Cricket Association met Sai at Mantralaya Mahanadi Bhawan and invited him to the match. According to the association’s official account, Sai proposed the initiative to encourage female athletes, promote women’s cricket in the state and help establish Chhattisgarh as a sports hub. The association accepted the proposal.

India’s squad features opener Shafali Verma, former captain Harmanpreet Kaur, wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh and all-rounder Deepti Sharma. Zimbabwe, led by Josephine Nkomo, will look to challenge the hosts with players including Kelis Ndhlovu, Beloved Biza and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano.

The pitch is expected to favour batters, raising the prospect of a high-scoring contest. The weather forecast indicates no precipitation during the match, although rising humidity could bring dew into play during the second innings. This may make bowling more difficult and give the team winning the toss a potential advantage.

The matches will be telecast on Star Sports from 7 pm onwards, with JioHotstar holding the digital rights for the series.

India Women squad: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana (captain), Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Gunalan Kamalini, Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Minnu Mani, Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Anushka Sharma, Jintimani Kalita, Niki Prasad and Prema Rawat.

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