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India’s women completed a 3-0 sweep of their ODI series against Zimbabwe with an eight-wicket win in the third match at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara, on Wednesday, October 28. Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma claimed her maiden five-wicket haul in the format before Pratika Rawal and Shafali Verma powered India to 133/2 in only 17 overs.
Zimbabwe, who chose to bat first, were dismissed for 131 in 39.5 overs. India’s chase was completed with 33 overs to spare, underlining the hosts’ control of a series in which they won all three matches.
Sharma was the key figure in Zimbabwe’s innings, returning figures of 5/39 from 10 overs. Her career-best performance broke through the visitors’ top and middle order and earned her the Player of the Match award. It was her first five-wicket haul in women’s ODIs.
Zimbabwe’s best batting contribution came from wicketkeeper-opener Modester Mupachikwa, who scored 37 from 48 deliveries. Captain Josephine Nkomo added 35 from 67 balls, but the innings did not develop into a total capable of seriously challenging India’s batting line-up.
India’s other bowlers helped maintain pressure. Kranti Gaud and Sayali Satghare took two wickets apiece, while Sharma’s spell prevented Zimbabwe from building a substantial partnership late in the innings. Zimbabwe were all out before completing 40 overs.
India lost two wickets during the chase but never appeared in danger of missing the target. Rawal remained unbeaten on 59 from 56 balls, providing a steady base, while Shafali’s 51 not out from just 26 deliveries accelerated the finish.
The pair’s contrasting approaches made the chase brief. Rawal continued her consistent run through the series, while Shafali scored quickly enough to bring the required total within reach in 17 overs. India finished at 133/2, winning by eight wickets.
Nomvelo Sibanda and Loryn Phiri took one wicket each for Zimbabwe. The visitors were unable to build on the early breakthroughs, and India’s remaining batters ensured the series ended with another comfortable result.
The result gave India a 3-0 series victory in Smriti Mandhana’s first ODI series as full-time captain. India had won the opening match by nine wickets after bowling Zimbabwe out for 197, with Rawal scoring an unbeaten century. The second ODI was a more imposing batting display: India posted 328/6 before restricting Zimbabwe to 207, winning by 121 runs.
Across the three matches, India combined disciplined spin bowling with strong top-order batting. The final game offered another example: Sharma’s five-for restricted the target, and Rawal and Shafali made the chase emphatic rather than allowing Zimbabwe an opportunity to return to the contest.
Rawal was named Player of the Series after scoring 220 runs in three innings, including a century and two half-centuries. Her unbeaten 59 in the final ODI extended a series in which she repeatedly gave India a reliable scoring platform.
Sharma ended as the leading wicket-taker, with nine wickets across the three matches. Her 5/39 in the finale followed a four-wicket return in the second ODI, highlighting her influence as the series progressed. The young spinner’s performance was one of the defining individual stories of India’s clean sweep.
The three wins also earned India six points in the ICC Women’s Championship 2025–29, an important reward in the qualification cycle for the next Women’s Cricket World Cup. The sweep lifts India’s position in the championship standings, while Zimbabwe remain near the bottom after a challenging first campaign in the competition.
For India, the series offered a strong start to Mandhana’s full-time captaincy and encouraging contributions from both experienced players and emerging talent. For Zimbabwe, the tour provided valuable exposure against a top side, but the team will need greater batting resilience and more sustained partnerships to turn competitive passages into results.
