Charani's 4-wicket haul skittles Zimbabwe for 197 in 1st ODI at Vadodara
Synopsis
Spinner Shree Charani's 4 for 23 was the standout performance as World Champions India Women restricted Zimbabwe to 197 at Vadodara's BCA Stadium. Two dropped catches in the powerplay gave Zimbabwe an early lifeline, but Charani's precision and Kranti Gaud's three wickets ultimately proved too much — setting up India's chase for a 1-0 series lead.
Key Takeaways
Shree Charani claimed 4 for 23 to lead India's bowling attack in the 1st Women's ODI at BCA Stadium, Vadodara , on 23 October 2026 .
Zimbabwe Women were bowled out for 197 in 49.5 overs ; Beloved Biza top-scored with 62 off 92 balls .
Kranti Gaud took 3 for 42 and Deepti Sharma claimed 2 wickets ; Shafali Verma added one.
India dropped two catches in the powerplay, allowing Zimbabwe to reach 46/1 at the end of the first 10 overs.
Michelle Mavunga hit a rapid 29 off 23 balls to help Zimbabwe breach 160 before Charani ended her innings.
India now chase 198 to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
Spinner Shree Charani claimed a superb four-wicket haul as World Champions India Women bowled out Zimbabwe Women for 197 in 49.5 overs in the first ODI of their three-match series at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi, near Vadodara, on Friday, 23 October. India will now look to overhaul that target and take a 1-0 series lead.
Zimbabwe's Shaky Start
Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat, but were immediately pegged back when opener Loryn Phiri was caught and bowled by Kranti Gaud in the third over. India's grip could have tightened further in the same over, but wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh put down a regulation chance, handing Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano a vital reprieve.
The hosts maintained two slips and an attacking field, yet Zimbabwe's batters rotated the strike efficiently and capitalised on loose deliveries to reach 46/1 at the end of the powerplay. Vice-captain Deepti Sharma added to India's fielding woes when she grassed a catch at slip in the eighth over, allowing the partnership to extend.
Charani Breaks the Backbone
India captain Smriti Mandhana introduced Charani after the powerplay, and the spinner responded immediately — trapping Mugeri-Tiripano leg before wicket for 21 off 27 balls. Charani returned to dismiss opener Modester Mupachikwa in the 15th over, the batter miscuing a lofted shot to Gaud for 25 off 44 balls.
Deepti then accounted for Sharne Mayers in the 18th over — Mayers attempting the aerial route before being caught in the infield for 8 off 12 balls. With three wickets down and the innings in danger of collapsing, Zimbabwe needed a stabilising partnership.
Biza's Fighting Half-Century Keeps Zimbabwe Afloat
Beloved Biza and Nyasha Gwanzura answered with an effective mid-innings stand, rotating the strike and finding boundaries to take Zimbabwe past the 100-run mark in the 26th over. When the partnership threatened to turn the match, Charani took a return catch to end Gwanzura's resistance at 13 off 28 balls.
Biza continued to anchor the innings and brought up her half-century in the 35th over, reaching the milestone with a boundary off the 64th ball of her innings. Chiedza Dhururu looked composed alongside her, but Gaud bowled Dhururu in the same over for 10 off 23 balls.
Charani Completes Her Four-Wicket Haul
Lower-order batter Michelle Mavunga briefly injected momentum with an aggressive 29 off 23 balls, helping Zimbabwe cross the 160-run mark in the 39th over. Charani ended Mavunga's entertaining cameo in the 43rd over, completing her four-wicket haul — the first since debuting in international cricket.
Stand-in captain Nomvelo Sibanda fell to Shafali Verma in the following over, and Gaud then dismissed the well-set Biza — caught by Mandhana — for a top-scoring 62 off 92 balls, including four boundaries. Deepti bowled Tendai Makusha off the penultimate ball of the innings to wrap up Zimbabwe's total at 197 all out in 49.5 overs.
India's Bowling Card
Charani was the standout performer with figures of 4 for 23. Gaud supported admirably with 3 for 42, while Deepti claimed two wickets and Shafali chipped in with one. India's fielding, however, was far from flawless — two dropped catches in the powerplay alone allowed Zimbabwe an early foothold that they would not have otherwise enjoyed.
Brief scores: Zimbabwe Women 197 all out in 49.5 overs (Beloved Biza 62, Michelle Mavunga 29; Shree Charani 4-23, Kranti Gaud 3-42) vs India Women.
India's chase at the BCA Stadium will determine whether they take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Point of View
But the fielding lapses — two dropped catches in the powerplay — are a telling sign that this World Champions side is not yet firing on all cylinders in home conditions against a modest opponent. Charani's 4 for 23 is the headline figure, but the real story is how Zimbabwe survived early pressure to post a competitive 197 because of India's own errors. At a venue like Kotambi where spinners will likely dominate both innings, India should be favourites to chase 198, but the dropped catches and erratic fielding are a habit the side cannot afford as the series progresses.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the 1st India Women vs Zimbabwe Women ODI at Vadodara?
India Women bowled out Zimbabwe Women for 197 in 49.5 overs at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi, near Vadodara, on 23 October 2026. Spinner Shree Charani took 4 for 23 and Kranti Gaud claimed 3 for 42 as India set themselves a chase of 198 to take a 1-0 series lead.
How did Shree Charani perform in the 1st ODI against Zimbabwe?
Shree Charani was India's most successful bowler, finishing with figures of 4 for 23 in the first ODI at Vadodara. She dismissed Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Modester Mupachikwa, Nyasha Gwanzura, and Michelle Mavunga to lead India's bowling effort.
Who was the top scorer for Zimbabwe Women in the 1st ODI?
Beloved Biza top-scored for Zimbabwe with 62 off 92 balls, hitting four boundaries. Her anchoring knock was crucial in helping Zimbabwe recover from early wickets and post a total of 197.
What target are India Women chasing in the 1st ODI at Vadodara?
India Women are chasing a target of 198 runs in the first ODI of their three-match series against Zimbabwe at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi. A win would give India a 1-0 lead in the series.
How did Zimbabwe Women reach 197 despite early wickets?
Zimbabwe stabilised their innings thanks to dropped catches by India — including one by Richa Ghosh and another by Deepti Sharma in the powerplay — along with a fighting 62 from Beloved Biza and a late cameo of 29 off 23 balls from Michelle Mavunga. Their partnerships in the middle overs helped them recover from 46/1 at the powerplay.
