Kalita Earns ODI Debut as India Begin New Championship Cycle Against Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe chose to bowl vs India

India handed a debut to seam-bowling allrounder Jintimani Kalita, a veteran of the 2023 and 2025 Women’s Premier League campaigns with Mumbai Indians; she received her cap from captain Harmanpreet Kaur. Kalita earned her maiden ODI call-up as a replacement for Renuka Singh, who, according to a BCCI statement, was still “building up the bowling volume required for the 50-over format.”

Left-arm spinner N Shree Charani was preferred over Vaishnavi Sharma, with vice-captain Deepti Sharma serving as the other frontline spin option. Pratika Rawal, slated to bat at No. 3, and Shafali Verma provide additional off-spin alternatives. Maharashtra batter Tejal Hasabnis was slotted in at No. 5, a position typically occupied by Jemimah Rodrigues when fit.

Mandhana noted that the pitch at Kotambi Stadium was a red-soil surface, contrasting with the black-soil strip used during the WPL earlier this year.

This match marks India’s first fixture in the new ICC Women’s Championship cycle running through the 2029 ODI World Cup. It is also India’s first ODI since February 2026 and only their second series since clinching their maiden World Cup title last year.

India: 1 Smriti Mandhana (capt), 2 Shafali Verma, 3 Pratika Rawal, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur, 5 Tejal Hasabnis, 6 Deepti Sharma, 7 Richa Ghosh (wk), 8 N Shree Charani, 9 Jintimani Kalita, 10 Sayali Satghare, 11 Kranti Gaud

Zimbabwe: 1 Beloved Biza, 2 Sharne Mayers, 3 Modester Mupachikwa (wk), 4 Chiedza Dhuru, 5 Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, 6 Michelle Mavunga, 7 Nyasha Gwanzura, 8 Tendai Makusha, 9 Nomvelo Sibanda (capt), 10 Loryn Phiri, 11 Olinder Chare

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