India Women vs Zimbabwe Women Prediction, 2nd T20I 2026

The India Women vs Zimbabwe Women prediction favours India ahead of the second T20I of Zimbabwe Women’s tour of India 2026 at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur. India won the opening match by four wickets on 16 October, taking a 1–0 lead in the three-match T20I series. Zimbabwe will need a stronger performance with the bat and ball to level the series.

Zimbabwe made 114/5 in the first T20I, a total that proved difficult to defend against India’s batting depth. India reached 116/6 in 15.4 overs, winning with 26 balls remaining. Although the margin was four wickets rather than a dominant run chase, the result gave India the early advantage and showed that they could complete the chase without needing the full 20 overs.

The second match is important for both sides. India can secure the series with another win, while Zimbabwe must respond quickly to avoid going into the final T20I already beaten in the series. The first match also gives Zimbabwe a clear target for improvement: they need to add more runs without losing control of their innings and find a way to take wickets before India’s lower order can finish the chase.

The series is part of Zimbabwe’s first bilateral women’s tour of India, which includes three T20Is in Raipur followed by three ODIs in Vadodara. With the opening result already known, the second T20I is a chance for India to consolidate their lead and for Zimbabwe to demonstrate that they can compete more closely against the hosts.

Match Details

India Women Preview

India enter the second T20I with a 1–0 series lead, but the opening match highlighted both their strengths and their vulnerabilities. Their bowlers restricted Zimbabwe to 114/5, with Nandni Sharma taking 2/11 and Sree Charani returning 1/14. The target should have been manageable, yet India lost four wickets for 19 runs during the powerplay before Deepti Sharma and Niki Prasad steadied the innings.

Deepti was India’s most important performer in the first game. After delivering four overs for 22 runs, she scored 49 off 37 balls, combining control with measured aggression. Niki Prasad’s unbeaten 39 on debut was equally significant because she remained composed under pressure and helped complete the chase. Their partnership showed the value of having a batter who can rebuild alongside a player capable of accelerating when the opportunity arrives.

Smriti Mandhana is leading the T20I side following the captaincy change announced earlier this month, with Shafali Verma as vice-captain. The squad also includes Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh, G Kamalini, Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Sree Charani, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Jintimani Kalita and Minnu Mani.

India’s main priority is a better powerplay with the bat. The team has enough depth to recover from early wickets, but repeatedly relying on the middle and lower order would increase the risk against Zimbabwe’s spinners and seamers. India should aim to preserve wickets without losing scoring momentum, then use their all-round options to control the middle overs.

What India need to do: avoid another top-order collapse, keep Zimbabwe’s main batters under pressure and use the bowling depth that restricted the visitors to 114 in the opener. If India improve their first six overs with the bat, they have a strong chance of taking the series beyond Zimbabwe’s reach.

Zimbabwe Women Preview

Zimbabwe have a difficult task after losing the first T20I, but their batting showed enough potential to remain competitive. Kelis Ndhlovu scored 42 from 44 balls to hold the innings together, while Sharne Mayers added an unbeaten 43 from 33 deliveries. Their contrasting approaches gave Zimbabwe a late push after a relatively slow start, although the final total of 114/5 was not enough.

Captain Josephine Nkomo leads a 15-player squad retained after Zimbabwe’s historic first ICC Women’s Championship victory over West Indies. The squad includes Beloved Biza, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Kelis Ndhlovu, Michelle Mavunga, Francisca Chipare, Olinder Chare, Kudzai Chigora, Nyasha Gwanzura, Nomvelo Sibanda, Loryn Phiri, Chiyedza Dhururu, Modester Mupachikwa, Tendai Makusha and Sharne Mayers.

Nyasha Gwanzura was Zimbabwe’s standout bowler in the opening match, taking 3/18 and helping reduce India to 19/4. That spell demonstrated that Zimbabwe can create pressure even against a more experienced batting unit. They need to repeat that accuracy while avoiding the loss of control after the first breakthrough. Their recent T20I results against West Indies also show that bowling sides have been able to chase their totals comfortably, making batting improvement a priority.

Zimbabwe should look to give Ndhlovu time to anchor the innings while ensuring Mayers and the middle order can attack earlier if wickets are available. If they can add 20–30 runs to their previous total without compromising their batting structure, the contest could become much closer.

What Zimbabwe need to do: build a stronger platform, maintain scoring momentum through the middle overs and take early wickets against India’s top order. Gwanzura’s ability to create pressure will be important, but Zimbabwe also need contributions from the other bowlers to prevent India from rebuilding.

Team Squad and Team News

India Women Squad

Smriti Mandhana (captain), Shafali Verma (vice-captain), Niki Prasad, Harmanpreet Kaur, Anushka Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), G Kamalini (wicketkeeper), Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Sree Charani, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Jintimani Kalita and Minnu Mani.

Zimbabwe Women Squad

Josephine Nkomo (captain), Beloved Biza, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Kelis Ndhlovu, Michelle Mavunga, Francisca Chipare, Olinder Chare, Kudzai Chigora, Nyasha Gwanzura, Nomvelo Sibanda, Loryn Phiri, Chiyedza Dhururu, Modester Mupachikwa, Tendai Makusha and Sharne Mayers.

Probable Playing XI

Probable XIs are subject to official team announcements and the toss.

Dream11 / Fantasy Prediction

Captain Options

1. Deepti Sharma — made an impact in both innings in the first T20I, scoring 49 and conceding only 22 runs in four overs.
2. Sharne Mayers — her unbeaten 43 in the opener showed that she can contribute a substantial share of Zimbabwe’s runs.

Vice-Captain Options

1. Niki Prasad — her unbeaten 39 under pressure makes her a possible value pick if she retains her place.
2. Nyasha Gwanzura — her 3/18 in the first match gives her wicket-taking potential.

Fantasy suggestions are for informational purposes only and are not guaranteed to produce points or returns.

Broadcast Details

The match is scheduled for 7:00 PM IST on 18 October 2026. The available broadcast information lists Star Sports Network for television coverage in India and JioHotstar for live streaming. Check the platforms’ schedules on match day to confirm the listing for this specific fixture.

Toss Prediction and Strategy

If India Women win the toss

India could consider bowling first if the surface looks similar to the opening match and they are confident of restricting Zimbabwe again. However, their first-innings batting plan should also be considered: the top order needs a better start, so batting first would give them a chance to address that issue under less immediate chase pressure.

If Zimbabwe Women win the toss

Zimbabwe could consider batting first if they believe the pitch will remain suitable for scoring. Their priority should be to build on the contributions of Ndhlovu and Mayers while aiming for a stronger total than 114. If conditions favour chasing, bowling first could give Gwanzura another opportunity to put India under early pressure.

Toss Prediction

Predicted toss winner: India Women.

This is a speculative call, not a statistical prediction. The toss is uncertain; the more important factor is whether the winning captain chooses a strategy that suits the actual conditions and the team’s strengths.

Score Prediction

Winning Chances

Why the Win Percentage?

The main reasons behind India’s 78% estimate are:

1. The opening win: India have already demonstrated that they can complete the chase against Zimbabwe, giving them a clear series advantage.
2. Bowling control: India’s bowlers restricted Zimbabwe to 114/5, with Nandni Sharma taking two wickets for 11 runs.
3. Batting depth: India’s recovery through Deepti Sharma and Niki Prasad showed that they have players capable of rebuilding an innings under pressure.
4. Zimbabwe’s opportunity: Gwanzura’s 3/18 and the top-order collapse mean India cannot assume another comfortable match. Zimbabwe’s best chance is to repeat the early breakthroughs while scoring more runs themselves.

Key Player Matchups

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