India opt to bat in second ODI; Vaishnavi replaces rested Gaud

Vadodara: India captain Smriti Mandhana won the toss and elected to bat first against Zimbabwe in the second One Day International (ODI) at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. Heading into the match with momentum, the Indian management decided to make a single tactical change to their playing XI. Right-arm seamer Kranti Gaud was rested to accommodate left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma, giving her an opportunity to showcase her skills at the international level. Addressing the team selection at the toss, Mandhana clarified that the swap was not driven by pitch or weather conditions, but rather by the desire to test bench strength and give Vaishnavi game time. Mandhana noted that adding another left-arm spin option to the attack brings valuable variety to the bowling line-up. Mandhana also confirmed that aggressive batter Shafali Verma will continue to feature at the No. 3 spot. Highlighting Shafali’s impressive recent T20I form, the captain emphasized her game-changing potential within a span of just a few overs, alongside the added benefit of her handy off-spin. Josephine Nkomo Returns to Lead Zimbabwe On the other side, Zimbabwe received a significant boost with regular captain Josephine Nkomo returning to the playing XI. Nkomo, who missed the opening fixture due to a niggle, replaced Sharne Mayers in the lineup. Nomvelo Sibanda, who handled captaincy duties during the first ODI, retains her place in the squad. Nkomo expressed confidence in her team's ability to bounce back, urging her batting lineup to show greater intent from the outset. She hoped her fast bowlers could extract early movement from the Vadodara surface to make quick inroads into India's top order. Comparing the local conditions to home, Nkomo noted that while Vadodara plays similarly to Bulawayo, the players have had to adapt to the noticeably warmer weather. Playing XIs India: Smriti Mandhana (C), Pratika Rawal, Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur, Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), N Shree Charani, Jintimani Kalita, Sayali Satghare, Vaishnavi Sharma. Zimbabwe: Beloved Biza, Modester Mupachikwa (WK), Chiedza Dhuru, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Josephine Nkomo (C), Michelle Mavunga, Nyasha Gwanzura, Tendai Makusha, Nomvelo Sibanda, Loryn Phiri, Olinder Chare.