Harmanpreet's 126 & Deepti's 106* power India to 328/6 vs Zimbabwe in 2nd ODI
Synopsis
Harmanpreet Kaur's eighth ODI hundred and a record 153-run fifth-wicket stand with Deepti Sharma — who blasted an unbeaten 106 off just 86 balls — rescued India from an early two-wicket wobble and propelled them to a commanding 328/6 against Zimbabwe at Vadodara, setting the stage for a series-defining second innings.
Key Takeaways
Harmanpreet Kaur top-scored with 126 off 121 balls (15 fours) — her eighth ODI hundred — despite being dropped three times .
Deepti Sharma smashed 106 not out off 86 balls (15 fours), sharing a record 153-run fifth-wicket stand with Harmanpreet.
India were reduced to early trouble after losing Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma inside the first three overs .
A 124-run third-wicket partnership between Harmanpreet and Pratika Rawal (61 off 67) stabilised the innings.
Zimbabwe's sloppy fielding, including three dropped catches, proved costly as India reached 328/6 in Vadodara.
Harmanpreet Kaur struck a composed 126 off 121 balls, laced with 15 boundaries, as India posted 328/6 in the second Women's ODI against Zimbabwe at Vadodara on 25 October 2026. A 124-run third-wicket partnership with Pratika Rawal steadied a wobbling innings before Deepti Sharma's blazing 106 not out off 86 balls gave the total its imposing final shape.
The Recovery Stand That Set the Tone
India were in early trouble, losing both Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma within the first three overs. Harmanpreet and Pratika then stitched together a 124-run partnership for the third wicket that steadied the innings and restored momentum. Pratika contributed a measured 61 off 67 balls before departing, having helped neutralise the early damage.
'Initially they were bowling well, hitting good areas. Pratika and I had good communication that we have to build our innings. We have to see which balls we have to take charge and which balls to give respect. That partnership gave us confidence to build the innings,' Harmanpreet told broadcasters at the innings break.
Deepti Sharma's Match-Defining Finish
The innings' second defining chapter belonged to Deepti Sharma. The off-spin bowling all-rounder shared a record 153-run fifth-wicket stand with Harmanpreet, hammering 106 not out off 86 balls — her knock also decorated with 15 boundaries. Harmanpreet said she was content to rotate the strike and feed Deepti the majority of deliveries once the momentum shifted.
'When somebody just came in and is getting boundaries, your job is to take single and keep giving strike. Good to see that she was taking responsibility and good to watch her from the other end,' said Harmanpreet, who described Deepti's contribution simply as 'magic on the pitch.'
Tough Conditions and Three Dropped Catches
Harmanpreet, who was dropped three times en route to her eighth ODI hundred, acknowledged that the surface and the daytime heat added layers of difficulty. India's squad has played predominantly evening fixtures recently, making the day-game conditions at Vadodara an unusual challenge.
'It wasn't easy conditions. Nowadays we play a lot of night games. After a long time playing under the sun, difficult conditions to bat in,' she noted. She also pointed to an uneven track: 'It wasn't a true wicket. Initially was holding a bit. Idea was to keep batting and keep holding your shape.'
Zimbabwe's Fielding Lapses Prove Costly
Zimbabwe's bowling was moderately disciplined at times, but their fielding let them down badly. Three dropped catches at crucial junctures — including those that reprieved Harmanpreet — proved expensive, inflating India's total substantially. Whether their batters can mount a response in the second innings will determine if this contest has a competitive second half.
India now hold the initiative with a formidable total on the board, and the result of this fixture will shape the three-match ODI series momentum heading into the final game.
Point of View
And the manner of her innings, absorbing early pressure before accelerating, suggests her form is returning at a useful time for India. The more arresting story, though, is Deepti Sharma: a 106 not out off 86 balls from an all-rounder at No. 6 reframes what India's lower middle-order can contribute against weaker opposition and sets a high bar for her own consistency. Zimbabwe's three dropped catches are the kind of fielding lapse that does not just cost a game — against a side with India's batting depth, it can cost a series. If their catching does not sharpen before the next fixture, India will exploit it ruthlessly.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Harmanpreet Kaur's score in the 2nd ODI against Zimbabwe?
Harmanpreet Kaur scored 126 off 121 balls, hitting 15 boundaries, to top-score for India in the 2nd ODI at Vadodara on 25 October. It was her eighth ODI hundred, though she was dropped three times during her innings.
What did Deepti Sharma score in the India vs Zimbabwe 2nd ODI?
Deepti Sharma hit an unbeaten 106 off 86 balls, laced with 15 boundaries, to give India's innings its final surge. Her knock was part of a record 153-run fifth-wicket partnership with Harmanpreet Kaur.
What was India's total in the 2nd Women's ODI against Zimbabwe at Vadodara?
India posted 328/6 against Zimbabwe in the 2nd ODI at Vadodara on 25 October. The total was built on key partnerships from Harmanpreet–Pratika Rawal and Harmanpreet–Deepti Sharma.
Why did Harmanpreet say batting conditions were difficult in the 2nd ODI?
Harmanpreet noted that India's squad had been playing predominantly night games recently, making the daytime conditions at Vadodara unusually challenging. She also described the pitch as uneven early on, saying it was 'holding a bit' and not playing true.
What role did Zimbabwe's fielding play in India reaching 328/6?
Zimbabwe's fielding lapses — including three dropped catches at crucial moments, each reprieving Harmanpreet — significantly inflated India's total. The missed chances proved especially expensive given how Harmanpreet went on to make 126.
