Smriti Mandhana has led India in 22 white-ball games, and now the job is hers in all three formats
The BCCI named Mandhana as Harmanpreet Kaur’s successor on Tuesday, with Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma as her vice-captains for India’s first series against Zimbabwe.
Oct 7, 2026
Harmanpreet Kaur’s resignation post went up on Tuesday, and the BCCI did not leave the job empty for long. By the end of the day Smriti Mandhana was India’s captain in all three formats, and the selectors had picked her first two squads: three T20Is in Raipur and three ODIs in Vadodara against Zimbabwe, starting on October 16.
“To be given the responsibility of leading India is a very special honour,” Mandhana said. “Representing India has always meant a great deal to me, and to now have the opportunity to lead the team is something I will value deeply.”
She has done this before
Mandhana is not walking in cold. She has stood in for Harmanpreet in 18 T20Is, winning 11 and losing six, with one no result, and India won all four ODIs she led. She has also captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru to two WPL titles. She has played for India since 2013, so the dressing room she now runs is one she has been part of for 13 years.
The deputy’s job is split by format. Shafali Verma, 22, is vice-captain for the T20Is and Deepti Sharma for the ODIs. Harmanpreet is in both squads. She said when she stood down that she was not retiring, and in Raipur she will bat under the player who was her vice-captain.
Who is in and who is out
Jemimah Rodrigues is missing from both squads. She tore a hamstring playing for Southern Brave in The Hundred and was already ruled out of the Asia Cup and the Asian Games.
Five players picked for the Asian Games squad are not in the T20I group: Bharti Fulmali, Shreyanka Patil, Renuka Singh, Radha Yadav and Pratika Rawal. Renuka is still in the ODI squad. Minnu Mani is back in the T20I side for the first time since September 2023, Anushka Sharma and Prema Rawat return as well, and Niki Prasad and Jintimani Kalita come in.
The ODI squad has Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Yastika Bhatia and Renuka alongside the core of the T20I group, with Tejal Hasabnis and Sayali Satghare recalled.
A first for both sides
India and Zimbabwe have never played each other in a women’s international, and this is Zimbabwe’s first tour of India. The T20Is start at 7pm IST on October 16, 18 and 20. The ODIs are day games, starting at 2pm on October 23, 25 and 28.
A home series against a side India have never played is about as gentle a first assignment as a new captain gets. The selectors have used it to bring Minnu Mani, Anushka and Prema Rawat back into the T20I squad.