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Deepti Sharma, Niki Prasad rescue India after top-order collapse in 1st T20I against Zimbabwe

India’s women’s cricket team staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Zimbabwe by four wickets in the opening T20I of their bilateral series at Raipur’s Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium on October 16, 2026. Zimbabwe’s bowlers dismantled India’s top order early, reducing them to 19 for four within the first four overs of their 114-run target.

The hosts’ innings looked precarious until Deepti Sharma and debutant Niki Prasad anchored a crucial 82-run fifth-wicket partnership, steering India to victory with ease in just 15.4 overs. Sharma’s composed 49-ball knock and Prasad’s unbeaten 39 set the tone for the recovery, with the pair turning the match around after the collapse.

The win also marked a historic moment for Zimbabwe’s women’s program, as this was the first-ever bilateral series between the two nations, while Raipur hosted its first international women’s cricket match at the stadium.

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