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India captain Smriti Mandhana rose to applaud Harmanpreet Kaur after the senior batter reached her eighth One Day International century against Zimbabwe in Vadodara on October 25, 2026. Kaur went on to score 126 from 121 balls in the second Women’s ODI, helping India recover from an early collapse and build a total of 328 for six at the BCA Stadium.
The moment drew attention because Mandhana had recently taken over the national captaincy from Kaur, and reports had speculated about the relationship between the two players. The standing ovation was a visible gesture of appreciation for Kaur’s innings, though it does not by itself establish anything about private team dynamics.
India’s innings began poorly. Mandhana was dismissed in the opening over and Shafali Verma followed soon after, leaving the hosts at 19 for two. Kaur joined Pratika Rawal and helped rebuild the innings, with the pair adding 124 runs for the third wicket before Rawal was dismissed for 61 from 67 balls.
Kaur reached her century in the 41st over, having faced 101 deliveries. The dressing room applauded as she completed the milestone, and Mandhana stood to acknowledge the achievement. Kaur kept her celebration restrained, exchanged a handshake with Deepti Sharma and returned to batting, eventually finishing on 126 with 15 fours.
Her innings was the eighth ODI hundred of her career and moved her past former India captain Mithali Raj in the tally of Indian women’s ODI centuries. Mandhana remained ahead on 14 hundreds. Kaur’s knock was also her first ODI century on home soil since she made one against South Africa in June 2024.
After the partnership with Rawal ended, Kaur continued to guide the innings alongside Deepti Sharma. The pair added 153 runs, with Deepti producing a century of her own. She finished unbeaten on 106 from 86 balls as India closed on 328 for six, turning a fragile start into a strong total.
Kaur had received a reprieve on 67 when Zimbabwe missed a catch, and she made the most of the opportunity. Her innings combined controlled strokeplay with the ability to accelerate late in the innings. Deepti’s unbeaten century gave India a second major contribution and ensured the total did not depend on Kaur alone.
The match also followed a strong finish to India’s T20I series against Zimbabwe. India had won all three T20Is, including a final-match performance in which Kaur scored an unbeaten 91 from 41 balls. Her ODI hundred carried that form into the longer format and came at an important point in the series.
Mandhana’s standing ovation quickly became a talking point because of the recent leadership change. Kaur stepped down as India captain earlier in October, and Mandhana was appointed to lead the side. The two remain senior figures in the batting group, with Kaur continuing as a player after handing over the captaincy.
Public gestures during a match can show appreciation for a teammate’s achievement, but speculation about personal relationships should not be treated as fact without direct evidence. In this instance, the clear, verifiable event was Mandhana standing to applaud Kaur’s century while the India dressing room celebrated the milestone.
For the team, Kaur’s innings was valuable in cricketing terms regardless of the surrounding discussion. India had lost two early wickets, and her partnerships with Rawal and Deepti restored control of the innings. The score of 328 for six gave the bowlers a substantial target to defend and showed how quickly the side could recover from a difficult start.
The second ODI forms part of India’s three-match series against Zimbabwe, following the T20I leg. Kaur’s form, Deepti’s century and the team’s recovery from 19 for two are among the main takeaways for India as the series continues. The standing ovation may be the image that travels furthest online, but the innings itself was the central sporting achievement.
Mandhana’s response was a brief moment in a match defined by India’s batting recovery. Kaur’s eighth ODI century added to her record in the format, while the 153-run partnership with Deepti gave India the platform for a total of 328. The focus now shifts back to the result and the remaining fixtures, with India’s senior batters having supplied a strong performance after the top order fell early.
