Deepti, Niki lead India's recovery after top-order collapse against Zimbabwe

India won the first T20I in Raipur by four wickets, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, thanks to Deepti Sharma's 49 and debutant Niki Prasad's unbeaten 39. Chasing 115, India were reduced to 19 for 4 inside four overs by Nyasha Gwanzura (3 for 18), before Deepti and Niki added 82 off 63 balls to set them up for a win with 26 balls to spare in what was Smriti Mandhana’s first match as India’s full-time captain. The win was India's ninth in a row, their longest winning streak in the format.

Zimbabwe made a strong start despite losing Beloved Biza to Kranti Gaud in the first over after being given the bat by Mandhana. Kelis Ndhlovu struck the ball cleanly through the off side and, with Modester Mupachikwa for company, took Zimbabwe to 60 for 1 at the halfway mark as India missed run-out chances and gave away overthrows.

The game, though, turned after drinks. Mupachikwa was bowled out by Charani on a return catch, and the Indian spinners stifled the scoring rate. Ndhlovu, who was 42 off 30 balls at one stage, did not add another run and was bowled by an Arundhati Reddy slower ball for 42 off 44 in the 15th over, moments after surviving a catch by Niki at long-off that the third umpire ruled had touched the ground.

Sharne Mayers (43 not out off 33) kept Zimbabwe going with 4 fours and 2 sixes, including 15 off the 18th over bowled by Arundhati, but Nandani gave away just three runs in the final over and had Gwanzura and Michelle Mavunga stumped by Richa Ghosh off successive balls as Zimbabwe were limited to 114 for 5.

India's chase began with 14 off Tendai Makusha's first over before going awry. Gwanzura removed Mandhana with her first ball, the India captain leading-edging the ball to square leg, and then had Anushka Sharma caught at point three balls later. Harmanpreet Kaur, who was playing her first game since stepping down as captain, was caught at short midwicket by Mavunga in the following over, which turned out to be a wicket maiden. Gwanzura then held a sharp return catch to dismiss Shafali Verma and India found themselves tottering at 19 for 4 only 19 balls into their chase. They had never lost their first four wickets in a T20I within four overs before.

Deepti then joined hands with Niki in the middle, and the senior partner counterattacked from the start, lofting Gwanzura for two fours in the last over of the Powerplay. The pair scored 15 off the 10th over bowled by Olinder Chare, and Deepti hit three fours off Mavunga in the 12th over. India's highest T20I stand for the fifth wicket or less was 82 runs.

Deepti fell one short of her fifty in the 14th over, sweeping Chare to short fine leg, and Richa followed soon after, caught at deep midwicket off Biza, but Niki finished the match in the 16th over with a drive past mid-off.