Cricket

Vaishnavi Sharma stars as India Women complete 3-0 series sweep over Zimbabwe

  • Authored By: Sports Now
  • Updated Oct 28, 2026, 18:30 IST

Vaishnavi Sharma claimed a brilliant five-wicket haul to dismantle Zimbabwe for 131 before India Women cruised to an eight-wicket victory in the third ODI at Vadodara to seal the series.

Vaishnavi Sharma stars as India Women complete 3-0 series sweep over Zimbabwe

Sharma dismantles Zimbabwe lineup

India Women concluded their home series against Zimbabwe in dominant fashion, securing an eight-wicket victory in the third ODI at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. The result ensured a clean sweep for the hosts, who claimed the three-match series 3-0. The foundation for the final win was laid by a clinical bowling performance, spearheaded by Vaishnavi Sharma, who dismantled the Zimbabwe batting order to restrict the visitors to a modest total.

After Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat, they struggled to find momentum against a disciplined Indian attack. Sharma proved to be the standout performer, delivering a masterful spell of 5/39 from her 10 overs. Her ability to consistently find breakthroughs prevented any meaningful partnerships from developing. Modester Mupachikwa provided the most resistance for the tourists, top-scoring with 37 off 48 balls, while Josephine Nkomo contributed 35 from 67 deliveries. Despite their efforts, Zimbabwe were eventually bundled out for 131 in 39.5 overs, leaving India with a straightforward target to chase.

Rawal guides India to comfortable victory

The Indian chase began with an immediate setback when Yastika Bhatia fell for a duck in the very first over. With two early wickets down, the game briefly offered a glimmer of hope for the visitors. However, any tension was quickly extinguished as Pratika Rawal took control of the innings. Playing with composure and aggression, Rawal anchored the response with a fluent 59 off 56 balls, effectively taking the game away from Zimbabwe.

Supported by Shafali Verma, Rawal ensured that India reached the target of 132 with minimal further fuss. The pair navigated the remainder of the chase with ease, guiding India to 133/2 and confirming the series sweep. Alongside Sharma’s match-defining bowling figures, contributions from Sayali Satghare further solidified the team's all-round dominance throughout the contest. For Zimbabwe, the match served as a difficult conclusion to a challenging tour, while India’s clinical performance highlighted their depth and consistency across all three matches.