# Smriti Mandhana Nears Historic Milestone Ahead of Zimbabwe T20 Series

> India women's cricket team captain Smriti Mandhana is on the verge of becoming the first player in international cricket history to score 5000 T20I runs, needing just 133 more runs in the upcoming series against Zimbabwe.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Cricket · **Published:** 2026-10-18 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/cricket/zimbabwe-series-men-itihasa-rachane-utarengi-smriti-mandhana-virat-aura-rohit-ko-pichhe-chhorane-ka-sunahara-mauka-49276 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Smriti Mandhana, Indian Womens Cricket Team, India vs Zimbabwe, T20I, Womens Cricket

Indian women's cricket team newly appointed captain Smriti Mandhana is set to lead the team as a regular captain for the very first time. A three-match T20 series between India and Zimbabwe begins on 16 October, bringing a golden opportunity for her to create an unprecedented global record that no male or female player in world cricket has achieved to date.

In terms of run-scoring in T20 Internationals, the Indian opener has already moved ahead of several prominent male players. Established names in men's cricket such as Babar Azam, Jos Buttler, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli all trail behind her run tally. Now, Smriti Mandhana stands exceptionally close to becoming the absolute first player globally to cross the milestone of 5000 runs in T20I cricket.

## Just 133 Runs Away From Creating History

Throughout the history of the sport, no player in either men's or women's cricket has ever touched 5,000 runs in T20 Internationals. However, the Indian captain is within touching distance of this monumental feat. Across 179 matches and 172 innings so far, she has accumulated 4867 runs, featuring 2 centuries and 37 half-centuries. She now requires only 133 runs to script this historic world record, a target she can easily fulfill during the upcoming series against Zimbabwe.

## First-Ever Bilateral Series Between India and Zimbabwe

The three-match T20 series between the women's cricket teams of India and Zimbabwe gets underway on Friday. This marks the very first time a bilateral series is being played between the two women's national sides. The visiting Zimbabwe team arrives high on confidence after defeating West Indies in a one-day match, and their side will be led by Josephine Nkomo. All three matches of the T20 series are scheduled to take place on 16, 18, and 20 October in Raipur. Following this leg, both squads will travel to Vadodara, where a three-match ODI series will be played on 23, 25, and 28 October.

## What this means for you
This series carries significant weight for women's cricket as India and Zimbabwe's women's teams face each other in a bilateral series for the very first time.

- **Across India:** Cricket enthusiasts will closely track captain Smriti Mandhana as she inches towards the 5000-run T20 milestone. Fans nationwide can follow the matches scheduled across Raipur and Vadodara.

- **In Raipur:** Local sports fans will witness the live action of all three T20 matches taking place on 16, 18, and 20 October. This brings a landmark international women's cricket experience directly to the local venue.

## Why this happened
This bilateral fixture between the Indian women's team and Zimbabwe has been scheduled to further expand international women's cricket between the two nations. The visiting Zimbabwe side arrives carrying strong momentum following a recent one-day victory against West Indies.

- **First Bilateral Encounter:** This series marks the inaugural bilateral meeting between the women's national cricket teams of India and Zimbabwe.

- **Incoming Momentum:** The visiting Zimbabwe squad enters the contest backed by high confidence after defeating West Indies in their previous ODI outing.

- **Scheduled Venues:** Raipur in Chhattisgarh and Vadodara in Gujarat have been selected as the host cities for the respective legs of this bilateral series.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. When does the T20 series between the Indian and Zimbabwe women's teams start?
The three-match T20 series between India and Zimbabwe begins on 16 October.

### 2. How many runs does Smriti Mandhana need to complete 5000 T20I runs?
Smriti Mandhana needs only 133 runs to achieve this historic milestone.

### 3. Who is the captain of the Zimbabwe women's cricket team?
The Zimbabwe team will be captained by Josephine Nkomo.

### 4. Where will all the T20 matches of the series be played?
All three T20 matches of the series will be played in Raipur on 16, 18, and 20 October.

### 5. Which series will follow the T20 matches?
A three-match ODI series will be played in Vadodara on 23, 25, and 28 October following the T20 fixtures.

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