Jintimani Kalita Replaces Renuka Singh Thakur in India’s ODI Squad Against Zimbabwe
India have made a change to their squad for the upcoming women’s ODI series against Zimbabwe, with Assam seamer Jintimani Kalita called in to replace Renuka Singh Thakur. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Thakur will miss the three-match contest as she continues to build the bowling workload needed for 50-over cricket.
In its squad update, the BCCI said Renuka was “still building up the bowling volume required for the 50-over format at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.” The decision points to a measured approach to the fast bowler’s return to the longer white-ball format, where bowlers must be prepared to deliver across a full innings and potentially bowl several spells.
Renuka’s recent international schedule
The 30-year-old last played an ODI during India’s series against Australia in March. She has remained involved in the national setup since then, appearing twice at the Women’s T20 World Cup in June. Renuka was also selected for India’s Test against England at Lord’s in July, although she did not take the field in that match.
Her absence from the Zimbabwe ODIs is therefore a fitness and workload-related setback rather than a sign that she has been dropped from the wider plans. With a busy international calendar ahead, India will be keen to ensure that one of their established seamers is fully prepared before returning to the demands of 50-over cricket.
Kalita gets another opportunity after maiden India call-up
Kalita’s selection offers the young Assam seamer a chance to strengthen her case for a regular place in India’s white-ball plans. She received her maiden India call-up for the T20Is preceding the ODI series, but did not feature in the three-match contest, which India won 3-0. She has travelled with the squad to Baroda and could now be in contention to make her international debut in the one-day format.
The call-up follows a period of development across domestic and emerging-player cricket. Kalita represented India A in white-ball matches against Australia A’s touring side in September, after previously travelling to England with the India A team. Those assignments have given her exposure to different conditions and opposition, experience that could prove valuable if she gets an opportunity against Zimbabwe.
At franchise level, Kalita has played 13 Women’s Premier League matches across two seasons for the Mumbai Indians, taking one wicket. While those figures offer only a snapshot of her T20 record, her selection for the national squad reflects the selectors’ interest in assessing her potential in the international environment. The ODI series will provide a different challenge, with longer spells and greater emphasis on maintaining control through multiple phases of an innings.
India’s updated ODI squad
India’s revised squad for the Zimbabwe series features a mix of experienced internationals, emerging players and options across batting, bowling and wicketkeeping:
Smriti Mandhana (captain), Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur, Harleen Deol, Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma (vice-captain), Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Yastika Bhatia (wicketkeeper), Vaishnavi Sharma, Nandni Sharma, Sree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare and Jintimani Kalita.
The group gives India several combinations to consider. Mandhana will lead a batting unit that also includes Harmanpreet and Shafali, while Deepti Sharma brings experience as an all-rounder and vice-captain. Richa Ghosh and Yastika Bhatia provide wicketkeeping choices, and the squad includes a range of bowling options as India assess their balance without Renuka.
Zimbabwe series offers a useful test for India
All three ODIs will be played in Baroda between October 23 and 28. Hosting the entire series in one city can help teams settle into consistent conditions, but it also places importance on adapting quickly to the surface and understanding how it changes as matches progress. India will be aiming to carry the confidence of their T20I sweep into the 50-over games while adjusting to the longer format.
For Kalita, the series is an opportunity to move from squad member to potential on-field contributor. If selected, she will be tested on her ability to find early movement, maintain accuracy and support the attack through the middle overs. A strong showing would add depth to India’s pace resources, particularly as the team manages Renuka’s return to full bowling capacity.
What to watch in the ODIs
Beyond the result, the series will give India a chance to evaluate emerging players and build combinations for future assignments. Team selection, the use of seamers and the balance between specialist bowlers and all-rounders are likely to attract attention. For fans following cricket prediction discussions, India’s recent 3-0 T20I victory may make them appear the stronger side on paper, but ODI cricket brings different tactical demands and a larger margin for momentum shifts.
Any prediction should account for the change in format, the conditions in Baroda and the possibility that India rotate players or test new combinations. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will have the chance to respond after the T20I series and challenge India’s plans over a longer contest. The three matches should offer a revealing look at India’s depth—and whether Kalita can turn her latest call-up into a memorable step in her international career.
