Assam’s Jintimani Kalita Makes India Debut in Women’s ODI Against Zimbabwe

Assam cricketer Jintimani Kalita achieved a major milestone in her career on Friday after making her international debut for India in the first women’s ODI against Zimbabwe in Vadodara.

The 22-year-old right-arm medium-fast bowler received her maiden India cap from captain Harmanpreet Kaur, marking a proud moment for the young cricketer from Assam.

Kalita earned her place in the ODI squad as a replacement for Renuka Singh Thakur, who was ruled out of the three-match series while continuing to build her bowling workload for the 50-over format at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

The Assam pacer was also part of India’s squad for the preceding three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe but did not feature in any of the games. India won the T20I series 3-0 before turning their attention to the ODIs.

Kalita’s debut comes after years of progress through domestic cricket, franchise competitions and India A assignments.

Hailing from Assam, Kalita made history in 2023 when she became the first woman cricketer from the state to feature in the Women’s Premier League (WPL).

Mumbai Indians signed her for Rs 10 lakh at the inaugural WPL auction. She went on to play 13 matches for the franchise across two seasons, gaining experience alongside established international cricketers.

In January 2026, Gujarat Giants signed Kalita for Rs 10 lakh as an injury replacement for Titas Sadhu. However, she did not get an opportunity to play for the franchise during that season.

Kalita has also represented India A, featuring in the white-ball series against Australia A in September 2026. She had earlier toured England with the India A team, gaining valuable experience against international opposition.

Her maiden appearance for the senior national side marks another important step in her journey.