Niki Prasad's 2-7 restricts Zimbabwe to 102/8 in 2nd T20I at Raipur
Synopsis
Niki Prasad is making an astonishing start to her India Women career — a match-winning unbeaten 39 in the series opener, and now back-to-back wickets plus a near hat-trick in her second T20I. At 20, she's already rewritten one record book and is rapidly forcing her name into the starting XI conversation for every format.
Key Takeaways
India Women restricted Zimbabwe Women to 102/8 in 20 overs in the 2nd T20I at Raipur on 18 October 2026 .
Niki Prasad took 2 for 7 in two overs, including back-to-back wickets and a near hat-trick.
Prasad is the first Indian women's cricketer to take a wicket off her first ball in T20I cricket .
Zimbabwe faced 29 dot balls in the powerplay — the second-most in a Women's T20I powerplay innings in India.
Sree Charani has now taken a wicket in each of her last 15 consecutive T20Is .
Top scorers for Zimbabwe: Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano 34 and Josephine Nkomo 27 ; both were aided by Shafali Verma and Kranti Gaud dropping catches.
Niki Prasad delivered another standout performance as India Women bowled out Zimbabwe Women for 102/8 in the second T20I at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur, on Sunday, 18 October 2026. The 20-year-old off-spinner returned figures of 2 for 7 in her two overs, once again proving to be India's most potent weapon with the ball.
Prasad's Historic Back-to-Back Strikes
Prasad, who had announced herself on the international stage with a match-winning unbeaten 39 in the first T20I, continued her remarkable run in the second game. She struck with the very first ball of her spell, dismissing Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano with a delivery on a good length that took the outside edge through to the keeper. On the very next ball, she bowled Nyasha Gwanzura plumb in front of the stumps.
Prasad came agonisingly close to claiming a hat-trick when Modester Mupachikwa missed a flick and was struck on the pads. The Indians went up in appeal, but elected against seeking a review — a decision that denied Prasad a place in the record books for a second consecutive match.
Notably, Prasad had already scripted history in the series opener by becoming the first Indian women's cricketer to take a wicket off her first ball in T20I cricket — a feat she backed up with an equally impactful showing in this match.
Zimbabwe Strangled in the Powerplay
India, asked to bowl first, applied pressure from the outset through pacers Kranti Gaud and Nandni Sharma. Kranti conceded just one run — a wide — in the opening over, and Zimbabwe were crawling at 5/0 after three overs as openers Beloved Biza and Kelis Ndhlovu struggled to find any rhythm.
Nandni drew first blood in the fourth over, clean-bowling Ndhlovu for an 11-ball duck. The visitors managed only 20/1 in six overs, facing as many as 29 dot balls during the powerplay — the second-highest in a Women's T20I powerplay innings in India. Only Pakistan Women (in Delhi, 2016) and South Africa Women (in Surat, 2019) faced more dots — 30 each — in comparable situations, both against India.
Missed Chances Cost India Early
Zimbabwe's middle-order duo of captain Josephine Nkomo (27) and Mugeri-Tiripano (34) attempted to steady the innings, but India let them off the hook with some sloppy fielding. Shafali Verma dropped Mugeri-Tiripano at mid-off in the 12th over off the bowling of Sree Charani, before Kranti grassed the same batter at long-on in the following over. Despite these reprieves, Zimbabwe were unable to replicate even their modest 114/5 from the first T20I.
Kranti accounted for Sharne Mayers (caught for 9) in the ninth over, while Deepti Sharma and Charani chipped in with a wicket apiece to keep Zimbabwe well in check.
Death-Over Collapse Seals Zimbabwe's Fate
The late-innings damage was comprehensive. Modester Mupachikwa was run out attempting a non-existent run in the 18th over. Charani then had Michelle Mavunga caught at long-on, and Francisca Chipare was run out off the final delivery trying to convert a single into two. Zimbabwe ended on 102/8.
Charani's wicket extended a remarkable personal run — she has now taken a wicket in each of her last 15 T20Is, underscoring her consistency as a frontline spinner for India.
Brief Scores
Zimbabwe Women 102/8 in 20 overs (Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano 34, Josephine Nkomo 27; Niki Prasad 2/7, Deepti Sharma 1/13) vs India Women. India's run chase is yet to be completed.
Point of View
Bowls sharp off-spin, and creates records in back-to-back matches is not a fluke, she is a talent accelerated. The more instructive story, however, is India's persistent fielding lapses: dropping Mugeri-Tiripano twice in three overs against a side that managed only 102 suggests structural issues in the outfield that a tougher opponent will punish. Sree Charani's 15-match wicket streak deserves more attention than it receives — consistent wicket-taking at this cadence is rare in women's T20 cricket globally.
NationPress
18 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What were Niki Prasad's bowling figures in the 2nd T20I against Zimbabwe?
Niki Prasad returned figures of 2 for 7 in two overs in the second T20I at Raipur on 18 October 2026. She dismissed Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano and Nyasha Gwanzura on consecutive deliveries and came close to taking a hat-trick.
Why is Niki Prasad's T20I debut considered historic?
Prasad became the first Indian women's cricketer to take a wicket off her very first ball in T20I cricket during the series opener against Zimbabwe. She backed that up with a match-winning unbeaten 39 in the same game, making her one of the most impactful debutants in recent India Women's cricket history.
What was Zimbabwe Women's total in the 2nd T20I at Raipur?
Zimbabwe Women were restricted to 102/8 in 20 overs at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. Their top scorers were Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano (34) and captain Josephine Nkomo (27).
How many dot balls did Zimbabwe face in the powerplay?
Zimbabwe faced 29 dot balls in the six-over powerplay, the second-most in a Women's T20I powerplay innings played in India. Only Pakistan Women (Delhi, 2016) and South Africa Women (Surat, 2019) have faced more — 30 each — in India.
What is Sree Charani's current wicket-taking streak in T20Is?
Sree Charani has now taken at least one wicket in each of her last 15 consecutive T20I appearances for India Women. She dismissed Michelle Mavunga with a catch at long-on in this match to extend that streak.
