India Women beat Zimbabwe by 9 wickets in 2nd T20I, seal series 2-0
Synopsis
India Women didn't just win — they rewrote the record books. A 67-ball margin in chasing a 100-plus target is now the best in Women's T20I history, Niki Prasad became the first Indian woman to take a wicket off her debut ball, and Mandhana's side logged their 17th T20I win of 2026 — a calendar-year record. The series is sealed with one match still to play.
Key Takeaways
India Women beat Zimbabwe Women by nine wickets in the 2nd T20I on 18 October 2026 at Raipur .
Shafali Verma (55 off 25) and Smriti Mandhana (47* off 25) chased down 103 in just 8.5 overs , with 67 balls to spare — a Women's T20I record for 100-plus chases.
Niki Prasad took 2/7 in two overs and became the first Indian women's cricketer to take a wicket off her debut T20I ball.
This is India's 17th T20I win in 2026 — a new calendar-year record, surpassing the previous best of 16 in 2018.
India lead the series 2-0 ; the third and final T20I is scheduled for 20 October in Raipur .
India Women sealed a 2-0 series lead against Zimbabwe Women on Sunday, 18 October 2026, romping to a nine-wicket victory in the second T20I at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. The Women in Blue chased down a modest 103-run target in just 8.5 overs, with 67 balls to spare — the largest winning margin by balls remaining while chasing a 100-plus total in Women's T20I history.
Shafali and Mandhana Demolish the Chase
Captain Smriti Mandhana (47* off 25 balls) and vice-captain Shafali Verma (55 off 25 balls) put on a stunning opening stand that made the contest a non-event from the second over onward. Verma hit fours and sixes off Nyasha Gwanzura — who had claimed three wickets in the first T20I — and the pair blazed to 76/0 after the six-over powerplay.
Verma reached her half-century off just 24 balls in the eighth over before she was caught out on the very next delivery. Mandhana ensured there was no drama, finishing the job with a six in the ninth over. The win also made this India's 17th T20I victory in 2026, their most in a single calendar year, surpassing the previous best of 16 recorded in 2018.
Niki Prasad Shines Again with the Ball
India's bowling effort, led by debutant Niki Prasad, was equally eye-catching. Prasad, who had scored an unbeaten 39 on debut in the first match, returned figures of 2/7 in just two overs in the second T20I. She claimed a wicket off her very first ball in international cricket and took another on the very next delivery, coming agonisingly close to a hat-trick — an LBW appeal that just missed leg stump denied her the landmark.
Prasad has become the first Indian women's cricketer to take a wicket off the first ball of her T20I career. Pacers Kranti Gaud and Nandni Sharma, along with spinners Deepti Sharma and Sree Charani, each claimed one wicket as Zimbabwe were restricted to 102/8 in their 20 overs — unable to surpass even the 114/5 they had posted in the first match.
A Historic Record and a New Era Under Mandhana
The victory is particularly significant given that it marks Smriti Mandhana's tenure as India Women's captain with a flying start. The margin — 67 balls remaining — eclipses the previous record held by West Indies Women, who had chased down 107 against Zimbabwe in Harare with 65 balls to spare.
Notably, with the series already sealed, both sides will return for a third and final T20I on 20 October in Raipur, which India can use to blood further fringe players or experiment with combinations ahead of bigger assignments.
Brief Scores
India Women 103/1 in 8.5 overs (Shafali Verma 55, Smriti Mandhana 47*; Beloved Biza 1/9) beat Zimbabwe Women 102/8 in 20 overs (Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano 34, Josephine Nkomo 27; Niki Prasad 2/7, Deepti Sharma 1/13) by nine wickets.
Point of View
But the more interesting subplot is Niki Prasad — a debutant who has contributed with both bat and ball in her first two international appearances. The bigger test will come against top-tier opposition, but the foundations being laid in these low-pressure series deserve acknowledgement.
NationPress
18 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the 2nd T20I between India Women and Zimbabwe Women?
India Women beat Zimbabwe Women by nine wickets on 18 October 2026 at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. India chased down 103 in 8.5 overs with 67 balls to spare, sealing the series 2-0.
Why is India Women's win against Zimbabwe a world record?
The nine-wicket win with 67 balls remaining is the largest margin by balls while chasing a 100-plus target in Women's T20I history. It surpasses the previous record held by West Indies Women, who chased 107 against Zimbabwe in Harare with 65 balls to spare.
What milestone did Niki Prasad achieve on debut?
Niki Prasad became the first Indian women's cricketer to take a wicket off the very first ball of her T20I career. She finished with figures of 2/7 in two overs and also came close to a hat-trick in the same match.
How many T20I wins have India Women recorded in 2026?
India Women recorded their 17th T20I win of 2026 with this victory, making it their most in a single calendar year. The previous best was 16 wins, set in 2018.
When is the 3rd T20I between India Women and Zimbabwe Women?
The third and final T20I of the series will be played on 20 October 2026, also in Raipur. With the series already sealed 2-0, India have the option to experiment with their squad for the dead rubber.
