India have already clinched the series with an unassailable 2-0 lead after comprehensive victories in the first two games. They will now aim for a clean sweep to top up a 3-0 T20I series triumph earlier this month. Pratika Rawal ‘s unbeaten 100 and Shree Charani’s four-wicket haul set up a nine-wicket win in the opener before Harmanpreet Kaur ‘s 126 and Deepti Sharma ‘s unbeaten 106 powered India to 328 for six in the second match. ( Live Scorecard )
The hosts have barely been challenged across the two ODI outings. India Women vs Zimbabwe Women, 3rd ODI, Live Updates: India will be taking on Zimbabwe in the third and final ODI of the three-match series on Wednesday in Vadodara.
India Women vs Zimbabwe Women, 3rd ODI: Live Score Updates
The captain of India Women – Smriti Mandhana informs that they have made 3 changes, with Kranti Gaud, Yastika Bhatia and Harleen Deol coming into the side. On playing 3 pacers, Mandhana explains that with night matches bringing plenty of dew, playing three pacers would be ideal, especially as India get closer to the Champions Trophy. Mandhana says restricting Zimbabwe to anything under 200 would be good, but as a captain, she wants her side to keep them below 150. The series forms part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2025-29, with valuable championship points up for grabs. After a nine-wicket win in the opener, India followed it up with an even more commanding 121-run victory in the second ODI. They have the chance to build on an encouraging start to Smriti Mandhana’s captaincy and continue developing their combinations in the 50-over format. Shree Charani’s four-wicket haul in the opener and Vaishnavi Sharma’s 4/39 in the second ODI have highlighted the threat posed by their slower bowlers, while Deepti Sharma’s control and experience make her a key figure in both departments. Beloved Biza’s 62 in the first ODI and Modester Mupachikwa’s 49 in the second showed their ability to resist India’s attack, while Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano has also provided useful runs. Another test at Vadodara – The BCA Stadium has already witnessed India chase down a target comfortably and then post a total of 328/6, highlighting the batting opportunities on offer. Team Form (Last 5 completed ODIs, recent first) – IND-W – WWLLL | ZIM-W – LLLWL.
With the series already won, India could look to build on those performances while ensuring the rest of the batting order gets enough time in the middle.
On her positive approach with the bat, Deepti says the format does not matter to her. She admits that they need to pick up more wickets with the new ball, which is crucial in ODIs, and says giving the pacers more game time in the lead-up to the tournament is something the team has discussed. About the team changes, the skipper says that they have one change in the playing XI, with Francisca Chipare coming into the side. Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare and Jintimani Kalita provide pace options, allowing India to vary their attack according to the conditions.
A quick chat with India’s star all-rounder – Deepti Sharma shares that she was keen to make a significant impact after a quiet last few games and was happy to contribute in the previous match. As vice-captain, she wants to keep improving and do better for the team. She always takes the match situation and the bowlers into account before looking to bat positively. She also reveals that she has worked on a few aspects of her batting with her coach back home, and that extra work is now paying off. Zimbabwe Women (Playing XI) – Modester Mupachikwa (WK), Loryn Phiri, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Beloved Biza, Josephine Nkomo (C), Michelle Mavunga, Nyasha Gwanzura, Chiedza Dhururu, Nomvelo Sibanda, Francisca Chipare (In for Tendai Makusha), Olinder Chare. India Women (Playing XI) – Smriti Mandhana (C), Pratika Rawal, Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur, Harleen Deol (In for Tejal Hasabnis), Yastika Bhatia (WK) (In for Richa Ghosh), Deepti Sharma, Sayali Satghare, Jintimani Kalita, Kranti Gaud (In for Sree Charani), Vaishnavi Sharma. She feels the game is moving towards teams having the flexibility to play an extra seamer while relying on part-timers for spin options. The skipper of Zimbabwe Women – Josephine Nkomo starts off by saying that the track looks good to bat, and they would like to put some runs on the board. Nkomo reflects on the value of top-tier exposure for her squad, noting that competing at this level offers a clear picture of the quality gap and pinpoints the specific areas they must develop moving forward. She expresses strong belief in her team’s potential, stating that the squad is fully capable of raising their standards and putting up a far tougher fight. TOSS – Toss time in Vadodara. Smriti Mandhana and Josephine Nkomo are present in the middle. ‘Heads’ is the call from Nkomo, and she gets it right. Zimbabwe Women opt to BAT first. A tale of two ODIs – The side winning the toss has opted to bat first in both games, but the results could hardly have been more different. In the series opener, Zimbabwe struggled to put up a competitive total as the Indian bowlers dominated proceedings from start to finish. In the second encounter, it was the Indian batters who stole the show, piling up a mammoth total that the visitors never came close to chasing down. For the visitors, it is time to find something special, be it a spark, a moment of magic or a performance that can help them go toe-to-toe with the hosts. India, meanwhile, will be hoping for more of the same. Stay tuned for the toss and team updates! Final bow in Vadodara – Hello and a very warm welcome to everyone joining us as Zimbabwe’s first-ever tour of India comes to a close. The series result is settled, but there is still plenty to play for in this final ODI. India will be looking to complete a clean sweep, while Zimbabwe will be eager to finish the tour with something to show for their efforts. … MATCH DAY … Series sweep in sight – India Women return to the BCA Stadium in Vadodara for the third and final ODI against Zimbabwe Women with the series already secured, but another strong performance would complete a clean sweep across the three-match contest. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will be eager to make the contest more competitive and find a way to challenge a side that has so far proved superior in both departments. India’s batting depth a major strength – India’s batting line-up has several players capable of taking responsibility, whether through a steady foundation or an aggressive finish. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma provide attacking options at the top, while Pratika Rawal has shown her ability to bat deep, highlighted by her unbeaten century in the opening ODI and a fifty in the previous one. Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma add experience and stability in the middle order, with their hundreds in the second game underlining how difficult India can be to contain once partnerships develop. Richa Ghosh also offers power lower down, giving the hosts plenty of flexibility in how they approach their innings. Mandhana and Shafali will be keen to make their starts count, having both fallen cheaply in the second ODI, while players such as Harleen Deol, Tejal Hasabnis and Yastika Bhatia offer further options if the hosts decide to rotate. Spin remains India’s trump card – India’s bowling attack has complemented the batting depth, with their spinners particularly effective at controlling the middle overs and breaking partnerships. The challenge will be to sustain that discipline while avoiding any drop in intensity with the series settled. India will also want to keep their fielding sharp and prevent Zimbabwe’s batters from building partnerships that could make the contest more competitive. Zimbabwe need greater batting support – Zimbabwe have found individual contributors but have struggled to turn those efforts into competitive totals. Captain Josephine Nkomo, Sharne Mayers and Kelis Ndhlovu will be among those looking to strengthen the batting effort, with the visitors needing a more substantial contribution from the top order to avoid placing too much responsibility on a handful of players. Zimbabwe’s approach against spin will be especially important. Better strike rotation, greater intent against loose deliveries and the ability to bat through the middle overs could help them build a platform before accelerating. Their bowlers, including Nomvelo Sibanda, Michelle Mavunga, Tendai Makusha and Olinder Chare, will also need to find early breakthroughs and limit the big partnerships that have allowed India’s batters to take control. India’s ability to take wickets through the middle overs has been equally significant While the surface has allowed stroke-makers to flourish. Zimbabwe will need to adapt to those conditions more effectively, while India will aim to carry their momentum into the finale and complete a convincing series sweep. Championship points add to the stakes – The series also carries significance beyond the bilateral result, with the three ODIs forming part of the ICC Women’s Championship, which determines direct qualification for the next Women’s ODI World Cup. India will look to collect the maximum points available and strengthen their campaign, while Zimbabwe will be keen to make the most of every opportunity against a higher-ranked opponent. For the visitors, a stronger showing in the finale would provide a valuable boost to their Championship campaign, even as India aim to close out the tour with a perfect record.
