Smriti Mandhana leads India for first time ever in ODI cricket

Smriti Mandhana, in the ongoing first ODI against New Zealand Women, is leading India in ODI cricket for the first time ever after having to step in as skipper due to a niggle sustained by incumbent captain Harmanpreet Kaur.

Mandhana has led India in 14 T20Is, but this is her first game as captain in the 50-over format. 

“Harmanpreet Kaur has a niggle and has been rested for the 1st ODI. Smriti Mandhana will be leading the side in her absence,” the BCCI said in a release.

India, who are taking on newly crowned T20 World Cup champions New Zealand, are batting first after Mandhana won the toss in her debut as ODI skipper. The hosts have opted to bring in two new faces in Tejal Hasabnis and Saima Thakor, both of whom have been handed maiden ODI caps. 

While Thakor had a few impressive showings with the ball in the 2024 edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) representing the UP Warriorz, Hasabnis is entering the series on the back of strong showings with the bat against Australia in August, where he registered scores of 32, 6, 50, 63 & 53. 

India XI for first ODI

Smriti Mandhana (c), Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Dayalan Hemalatha, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Tejal Hasabnis, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Saima Thakor, Renuka Thakur Singh

New Zealand XI for first ODI

Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine (c), Brooke Halliday, Maddy Green, Isabella Gaze (wk), Lauren Down, Jess Kerr, Molly Penfold, Eden Carson

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