Mandhana Vows to Fix India's T20I Flaws as First Full-Time Captaincy Assignment Begins Against Zimbabwe

Smriti Mandhana has set her sights on sharpening India's T20I approach as she takes charge for the first time as the team's full-time captain, with a six-match home series against Zimbabwe serving as the launchpad for the inaugural Women's Champions Trophy in February 2027.

India host Zimbabwe for three T20Is in Raipur from October 16, followed by three ODIs in Vadodara. It is the first time the two sides have met in a bilateral series, and Mandhana said the occasion carries genuine value for her squad.

'We will look to set standards'

Mandhana told reporters that the T20I leg would be used to establish a clear blueprint for how India want to play over the next three months, rather than simply banking wins.

"The first bilateral (series) with Zimbabwe, I think, it is very exciting. It is our first time playing with them. Sometimes, playing with Zimbabwe and all the Associate nations, it feels like you can learn a lot from them as well because they enjoy playing their cricket," she said.

"Sometimes, we get into a lot of things professionally. You can learn a lot from them. But again, we have six T20 matches before the Champions Trophy as an Indian team so, we will look to set standards as an Indian team (as to) how do we approach the next three months leading up to the Champions Trophy."

T20I gaps remain despite trophy run

India have collected major silverware in recent international cricket, but Mandhana was candid that the shortest format still demands attention as the countdown to the Champions Trophy accelerates.

"We have won the World Cup in the last one-and-a-half-year but there were few things which we needed to work in the T20 format especially," she said.

Rather than opening her tenure with a list of problems, however, Mandhana chose to highlight the players who have forced their way into the side.

"But I would say our strength has been the players who have come in. They have done extremely well. On the first day, I wouldn't really want to talk about weaknesses in a way," she said.

"There is a lot of things we need to work on. We need a lot of things to get in place. But I think today is the day to talk about good and positive stuff."

Mandhana arrives in the role as one of the game's premier T20I performers. On September 21, 2026, she became the leading run-scorer in women's T20I history during the Asian Games semi-final against Bangladesh, passing Suzie Bates after a blistering 37 off 19 balls that powered India to 71/1 in the powerplay.

India vs Zimbabwe: Full schedule

All three T20Is will be staged in Raipur under lights, while the ODI leg moves to Vadodara with afternoon starts.

• October 16 – 1st T20I, Raipur, 7:00 PM IST
• October 18 – 2nd T20I, Raipur, 7:00 PM IST
• October 20 – 3rd T20I, Raipur, 7:00 PM IST
• October 23 – 1st ODI, Vadodara, 2:00 PM IST
• October 25 – 2nd ODI, Vadodara, 2:00 PM IST
• October 28 – 3rd ODI, Vadodara, 2:00 PM IST

With the Champions Trophy on the horizon, the Zimbabwe series represents Mandhana's first real opportunity to stamp her identity on an Indian side that will be judged on how quickly it converts its recent dominance into preparation for the new global showpiece.