India takes early wickets as Zimbabwe bats first in third ODI

India eyes series clean sweep

India aims to complete a 3-0 series clean sweep against Zimbabwe in the final one-day international match this Wednesday. The hosts already secured the three-match series with a 2-0 lead after winning the first two games.

This objective follows India's successful three-match T20I series victory earlier this month.

Team changes and Yastika Bhatia's return

India made three changes to its lineup, bringing in Yastika Bhatia, Harleen Deol, and Kranti Gaud to replace Tejal Hasabnis, Richa Ghosh, and Shree Charani. Gaud previously played in the first match of the series, where she recorded a three-wicket haul.

This match provides the first opportunity for Bhatia and Deol to play in Vadodara. Bhatia returns to one-day international cricket after a two-year absence, following a recent performance for India A against Australia A in Mohali where she scored 112 runs off 84 balls.

Bhatia last played for India in July, when she scored 113 runs in a one-off Test match at Lord's against England. Zimbabwe made a single change for the final game, replacing Tendai Makusha with right-arm medium-pacer Francisca Chipare.

Dominant performances in the first two ODIs

India won the first two ODIs. Pratika Rawal scored an unbeaten 100 and Shree Charani took four wickets to lead Zimbabwe to a nine-wicket loss in the first ODI. Zimbabwe scored 197 and 207 in the first two matches while batting nearly the full 50 overs each time.

The second ODI saw India post 328 for six as Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma both scored centuries. Kaur made 126 and Sharma remained unbeaten on 106. India bowled Zimbabwe out for 207 to win by 121 runs and seal the series with one game to spare.

Leadership and captaincy duties

Smriti Mandhana is the full-time captain for India. She scored 32 in the first ODI and was dismissed for a duck in the second. Mandhana stated that she wanted her side to take more wickets.

Vaishnavi Sharma, a left-arm spinner, is leading the side for the third ODI. The team currently focuses on improving powerplay performance, addressing fielding issues, and stabilizing Mandhana's batting form.

Match incidents and fielding highlights

A bail at the Zimbabwe batting end malfunctioned during the match and officials replaced it. Yastika Bhatia was the only Indian player to appeal when a ball brushed the pads of Modester Mupachikwa, but the umpire ruled not out and the team did not take a review.

Sayali Satghare delivered a ball to Mupachikwa that was clipped to deep square leg for a single. Satghare later bowled a delivery to Loryn Phiri that pitched up on off, which Phiri drove back toward the bowler before Satghare got low to stop the ball.

Satghare eventually dismissed Phiri with a leg-stump delivery that produced an inside edge. Bhatia dived low to her left to take a catch and complete the dismissal.

Detailed bowling analysis of the opening spell

Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano batted at number 3 for Zimbabwe. Kranti Gaud started with a length delivery outside off, which Mugeri-Tiripano pushed to extra cover. Gaud followed with a short ball angled toward the leg side, causing Mugeri-Tiripano to mistime a pull shot that struck the leg-side strip.

A fuller delivery from Gaud outside off resulted in a tap to cover, while a good-length ball outside off beat Mugeri-Tiripano on the outside edge. Sayali Satghare bowled a full, angling across delivery outside off to Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, who attempted a punch but missed. Satghare then bowled a full delivery on off that the batter defended.

The Zimbabwe batter glanced a fullish ball around her pads for a boundary. Satghare concluded the sequence with a nagging-length ball angling down the leg side, which Mugeri-Tiripano missed to draw a wide call.

Context of the 2025-29 Women's Championship cycle

This third ODI is part of the Zimbabwe Women's Tour of India 2026.

India previously won the first two ODIs after claiming a 3-0 victory in the T20I series, according to Cricinfo.