Mandhana pleased with options for India at Champions Trophy

icc cricket

icc cricket|21-10-2026

India captain Smriti Mandhana believes her team is building nicely for next year's inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy on home soil.

The Asian side warmed up for the six-team tournament, which they will host in February next year, with a T20I series sweep at home against Zimbabwe. Their 92-run victory in Raipur confirmed a comprehensive 3-0 result.

India experimented with a variety of combinations across the three-game series. Nandani Sharma (six wickets), Kranti Gaud (three) and Niki Prasad (three) were among those who impressed with the ball, as Mandhana called upon a total of six individual bowlers.

With conditions during the Zimbabwe series likely to mirror what teams will face during the Champions Trophy early next year, Mandhana feels her side is well placed for success.

"It (bowling options) is looking good for sure," Mandhana said. "We were all looking in a way where dew is playing its part again.

"We're going to have the next three months going ahead; there's going to be a lot of dew until we approach the Champions Trophy, so the kind of combination we need and the bowlers, the more the merrier. I'm really happy and pleased with the way Niki, Shafali (Verma), everyone chipped in."

Another positive from the Zimbabwe series was former skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's performance. The veteran batter hit an unbeaten 91 in the series finale, her first meaningful contribution since handing over the captaincy to Mandhana earlier this month.

Harmanpreet smashed five sixes and 10 fours during her quickfire 41-ball innings against Zimbabwe, and the 37-year-old suggests she is now playing with more freedom without the extra responsibility of captaincy.

"I don't think there is any pressure anymore. I think now it's all about enjoying myself on the field and I think that's what I want to do," Harmanpreet said at the post-match presentation.

"I definitely enjoy myself in the middle, and this is what I'm here for. I just want to enjoy my batting, and it's good that those runs came."