New leadership and fresh faces boost India women's cricket ahead of Zimbabwe series

With Haramanpreet Kaur relinquishing her captaincy duties, the Indian women’s team enters a new era under Smriti Mandhana’s stewardship. The move signals confidence in Mandhana’s strategic acumen and her ability to inspire a mixture of veterans and debutants.

Shefali Verma, named vice‑captain for the T20s, will share tactical responsibilities on‑field, while Deepti Sharma will act as deputy for the ODIs, providing balance with her batting and bowling options.

The selection committee introduced two uncapped openers, Nikki Prasad and Jhintimani Kalita, offering the side a burst of aggression at the top. Their inclusion reflects the board’s focus on building depth ahead of future ICC events.

Experienced campaigners like Anushka Sharma, Minu Mani and Prema Rawat return to the squad, reinforcing stability across the batting order and spin department.