India won the toss and elected to bat first in the 2nd ODI against Zimbabwe at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara, on 25 October 2026, with left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma coming in for rested fast bowler Kranti Gaud. Holding a 1-0 series lead, a victory on Sunday would give India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The Toss and Team Changes

India captain Smriti Mandhana confirmed the change at the toss, stating that the decision to rest Kranti was a workload management call rather than a strategic pitch-based selection. 'We thought of resting Kranti and giving game time to Vaishnavi. It wasn't specifically about pacers versus spinners. But having said that, Vaishnavi bowled exceptionally well in the previous game, so bringing in another left-arm spinner is certainly not a bad option to have,' Mandhana said.

Vaishnavi Sharma, who made her ODI debut against Australia in Hobart earlier this year, thus earns only her second ODI appearance. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, welcomed back regular skipper Josephine Nkomo after she missed the first game with a shoulder issue, while Sharne Mayers was left out of the playing eleven.

Shafali Verma to Continue at Number Three

Mandhana also confirmed that Shafali Verma will retain the number three batting position, having struck an unbeaten 64 in the opening match. 'Shafali has been in great form since the T20 series. With the kind of explosive batting she brings, she can change the course of a game within a few overs. Plus, she gives us a few useful overs with the ball,' the captain said. Shafali's promotion up the order has been one of the tactical talking points of the series, and her first-game knock validated the approach.

Mandhana on Her Captaincy Experience

Asked to reflect on her captaincy stint, Mandhana pointed to communication as the most rewarding aspect. 'I'd say the communication aspect, just understanding where the players are at mentally and keeping those lines open,' she said, adding with a lighter touch: 'Managing 50 overs as captain feels like it goes by much faster than when you're just out there fielding!' Her remarks suggest a settled, cohesive dressing room as India push for a series-clinching result.

Zimbabwe's Mindset Ahead of a Must-Win Game

Zimbabwe captain Nkomo, returning to lead her side after recovering from a shoulder issue, said the visitors need to show greater positive intent with the bat. 'I think we just need to step up on our batting, just score, just be a little bit more positive, show some intent, and then make sure we have a strong innings getting into the last five overs,' Nkomo said. She added that the Vadodara conditions are comparable to Mumbai — albeit slightly hotter — and that Zimbabwe feel well-acclimatised.

Playing XIs

India: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana (captain), Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur, Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Vaishnavi Sharma, Sayali Satghare, N Sree Charani, and Jintimani Kalita.

Zimbabwe: Modester Mupachikwa (wk), Loryn Phiri, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Beloved Biza, Josephine Nkomo (captain), Nyasha Gwanzura, Chiedza Dhururu, Michelle Mavunga, Nomvelo Sibanda, Tendai Makusha, and Olinder Chare.

India will be looking to wrap up the series today; a Zimbabwe fightback in front of a sporting Vadodara crowd would set up a fascinating series decider.