Mandhana begins full-time India captaincy ahead of Zimbabwe series

Smriti Mandhana has begun her tenure as India’s full-time captain with the team preparing for a three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, followed by three one-day internationals. The series is scheduled to begin October 16 in Raipur, and Mandhana says the six T20 matches before next year’s Women’s T20 Champions Trophy will help India set standards and sharpen its approach. The Indian cricket team’s official Instagram account posted video of Mandhana batting in the nets during training ahead of the series. The footage marked her first reported training session as full-time captain after Harmanpreet Kaur stepped down from the role. Mandhana said India would use the six T20Is before the Champions Trophy to work on how the team approaches the format over the coming months. She also acknowledged areas needing improvement across the game, including fitness, fielding, bowling and batting, according to her comments before the series. India’s opening match against Zimbabwe is scheduled for October 16 in Raipur. The series comprises three T20Is and three ODIs. The supplied reports describe the matches as Mandhana’s first as full-time captain, although she has held leadership roles...