Smriti Mandhana Named India Women’s T20I Captain, Shafali Verma New Vice-Captain
Smriti Mandhana becomes India Women’s T20I captain, with Shafali Verma as deputy for the Zimbabwe series in Raipur.
Smriti Mandhana has been named the new captain of India’s women’s T20I team, with Shafali Verma appointed as her deputy. The change marks the start of a new leadership era after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down.
Mandhana will begin her full-time captaincy with India’s three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. The games will be played in Raipur from October 16 to October 20.
Harmanpreet had led India in T20Is for more than a decade, from 2012 until September 2026. She stepped down from the captaincy after returning from Japan, where India won the gold medal at the Asian Games.
The BCCI has kept Harmanpreet in the 15-member squad for the Zimbabwe series. She will now play under Mandhana, bringing her experience into a team entering a new phase.
Mandhana has previously led India in T20Is and has also captained Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women’s Premier League. Her appointment gives India an experienced leader at the start of a new chapter.
Shafali, meanwhile, has been given the vice-captaincy role. The young opener will support Mandhana as India look to build a strong combination ahead of the upcoming international calendar.
The squad includes several key players, with Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Niki Prasad and Sree Charani among those selected. Richa and G Kamalini are the two wicketkeeping options in the team.
India Women’s T20I Squad vs Zimbabwe
Smriti Mandhana (c), Shafali Verma (vc), Niki Prasad, Harmanpreet Kaur, Anushka Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), G Kamalini (wk), Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Sree Charani, Nandni Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Jintimani Kalita and Minnu Mani.
The Zimbabwe series will give Mandhana her first full-time assignment as India’s T20I captain. India will play three matches in Raipur between October 16 and 20.
