Deepti Sharma created history with the bat against Zimbabwe Women in the second ODI by becoming the first Indian women to score a century batting at number six or below. The previous highest score was
Richa Ghosh’s 94 against South Africa in Visakhapatnam last year. Coming in after India had slipped to 148 for 4, she put on a partnership with Harmanpreet Kaur that turned the innings.
The two of them put on 153 which is the highest fifth-wicket (or lower) stand for India Women in ODIs. The left-hander finished unbeaten on 106 off just 86 balls, reaching the hundred in 83 balls.
This was the fifth-fastest century by an Indian woman. She smashed fifteen boundaries and provided a brilliant finish in the last over. It also ended a 3450 day wait since her only previous ODI hundred, that famous 188 against Ireland in 2017.
For years she has been a quality all-rounder for the Indian side who bowls long spells and also contributes with her batting. She once again showed her class with the bat and entertained the Vadodara crowd.
Test, ODI, T20I, Bat, Ball, Field – It’s Deepti Sharma, she is there all moments in Indian Women’s Cricket 🔥
– THE VICE CAPTAIN ERA BEGINS..!!! https://t.co/JDpMatizzK
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 25, 2026
Deepti Sharma’s all-round brilliance helps India Women beat Zimbabwe Women
India chose to bat and were immediately in trouble with Smriti Mandhana dismissed for a duck. Shafali Verma also fell for 8 as the hosts were in trouble with 19 for 2 inside three overs. Pratika Rawal (61) and Harmanpreet steadied things with a 124-run stand. Then the middle order briefly stuttered again before the former Indian captain and Deepti took complete control.
Harmanpreet’s 126 off 121 balls was her eighth ODI hundred and moved her past Mithali Raj into second place on India’s list of century-makers. India finished with a commanding score 328 for 6.
Zimbabwe did not get a quick start in the chase. Modester Mupachikwa scored 49 and Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano smashed 46, but the required rate climbed steadily.
Vaishnavi Sharma and Deepti shared seven wickets between them as the visitors were dismissed for 207 in 48.5 overs. India won by 121 runs and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. It was a clinical performance from the hosts which included two centuries and a disciplined bowling effort.
