India Women stand one win away from a clean sweep as the historic first-ever bilateral series against Zimbabwe Women reaches its final T20I in Raipur on Tuesday evening. Smriti Mandhana’s side has been ruthlessly efficient so far — winning the opener by four wickets on Friday and then dismantling Zimbabwe in the second game on Sunday — and the new captain will want to close out the series in style.
For Zimbabwe, led by Josephine Nkomo, this is about pride and learning. Touring India for the first time, the visitors have found the step up in class steep, but a competitive showing in the finale would be a valuable takeaway before the ODI leg of the tour begins in Vadodara on October 23.
Match Details: Date, Time and Venue
- Match: India Women vs Zimbabwe Women, 3rd T20I — Zimbabwe Women tour of India 2026
- Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM IST (1:30 PM GMT); toss at 6:30 PM IST
- Venue: Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur
- Series status: India lead the 3-match T20I series 2-0; a 3-match ODI series follows in Vadodara from October 23
Squads and Probable Playing XIs
India Women T20I squad: 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, Minnu Mani.
India Women probable XI: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana (c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Anushka Sharma, Minnu Mani, Sree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Arundhati Reddy, Nandni Sharma.
Zimbabwe Women are led by Josephine Nkomo, with Kelis Ndhlovu — the team’s leading T20I run-scorer in 2026 — and the aggressive Beloved Biza the key names in the batting order. The visitors are expected to stick largely with the combination from the first two games as they search for a formula that works against India’s varied attack.
India have barely been tested: their deep batting and a bowling attack led by Deepti Sharma, Sree Charani and the pace options have restricted Zimbabwe to 114/5 and 102/8 in the two games so far. The hosts may use the dead rubber to give bench players — such as Niki Prasad or G Kamalini — a run, but the core of the side is unlikely to change much.
Head-to-Head Record
These two sides had never met in international cricket before this tour, so the head-to-head begins with this series: India lead 2-0, winning the first T20I by four wickets (chasing 115 in 15.4 overs) and the second in dominant fashion (chasing 103 in just 8.5 overs).
Pitch and Weather Report
Both completed games in Raipur have been low-scoring evening affairs — Zimbabwe have struggled to 114/5 and 102/8 batting first, with India’s bowlers exploiting early movement and turn before the chase. Batting first has not produced a winning total yet in this series, and with dew expected under lights, the toss-winning captain may again prefer to chase. Conditions should be clear and warm, around 28°C, with no rain threat.
Where to Watch: Live Streaming and TV
- India: JioHotstar (live streaming); Sports18 (TV)
- Zimbabwe: Check SuperSport listings
- Global: Check local listings for the tour broadcast
FAQs
When is the India Women vs Zimbabwe Women 3rd T20I?
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 7:00 PM IST (1:30 PM GMT) at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur. The toss is at 6:30 PM IST.
What is the series score?
India lead the 3-match T20I series 2-0 after winning the first two games in Raipur.
Who is captaining India Women in this series?
Smriti Mandhana is leading India for the first time in this series, with Shafali Verma as vice-captain. Josephine Nkomo captains Zimbabwe.
What happened in the first two T20Is?
1st T20I (Oct 16): Zimbabwe 114/5, India 116/6 in 15.4 overs — India won by 4 wickets. 2nd T20I (Oct 18): Zimbabwe 102/8, India 104/1 in 8.5 overs — India won.
What comes after the T20I series?
A 3-match ODI series in Vadodara on October 23, 25 and 28, which forms part of the ICC Women’s Championship.
Where can I watch India Women vs Zimbabwe Women live?
In India on JioHotstar (streaming) and Sports18 (TV); viewers elsewhere should check local listings.
Conclusion
India have been a class apart in this series, and a whitewash looks firmly on the cards in Raipur. But Zimbabwe have nothing to lose now — and in T20 cricket, one inspired performance can change everything. For the hosts, the goal is simple: finish the job, stay sharp, and carry winning momentum into the ODI leg.
Full series broadcast and live-streaming guide: https://womencricket.com/2026/10/16/ind-w-vs-zim-w-t20i-series-broadcast-live-streaming-when-and-where-to-watch-in-india-usa-zimbabwe-other-countries/
