India made three changes to their playing XI as Zimbabwe won the toss and opted to bat in the third women's ODI at the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. Harleen Deol, Yastika Bhatia, and Kranti Goud were recalled to the side, replacing Richa Ghosh and Tejal Hasabnis in a reshaped lineup.

Team Changes and Toss

Zimbabwe captain Josephine Nkomo chose to bat first on what she assessed as a good batting surface, identifying a target of 250 or more as competitive. “Anything around 250, above 250, gives us a good chance,” Nkomo said. Zimbabwe made one change to their XI, bringing in Tendai Makusha.

India captain Smriti Mandhana confirmed the three alterations, with Yastika Bhatia coming in as wicketkeeper alongside the returning Harleen Deol and pace bowler Kranti Goud. The changes reflect India’s rotation policy ahead of a demanding international schedule.

Mandhana Eyes South Africa Tour and Champions Trophy

Mandhana used the pre-match address to lay out India’s thinking ahead of the South Africa tour and the Champions Trophy, noting that with most games expected to be played under lights, fielding three specialist pacers becomes an increasingly attractive option.

“We have South Africa big tour and the Champions Trophy. Considering those will be night matches, three pacers will be ideal. As we get closer to the Champions Trophy, we will think what will be the best combination. We have so many part-time spinners in our team, so we can always go with an extra pacer,” she said.

Mandhana also praised Kranti Goud, Sayali Satghare, and Jintimani Kalita for their discipline with the new ball, stating that India’s pacers have the ability to take more wickets in the powerplay. Her bowling benchmark was clear: anything under 150 would be an ideal restriction, though she acknowledged that keeping Zimbabwe under 180–200 would still represent a solid outcome.

Zimbabwe Captain on Exposure and Gaps

Nkomo was reflective about the series, acknowledging the significant gap between the two sides while stressing the developmental value of playing against a top-ranked team.

“Definitely, the exposure is good. Now we know how big the gap is and where we need to work on. It has been a good exposure for the girls; we haven’t played at this level much. It also gives them a chance to be picked in one of the leagues,” Nkomo said. On individual milestones achieved during the series, she added: “It feels good but I know we can do better. We still have a lot to offer, we just need to believe in ourselves.”

This is the third and final ODI of the series between the two sides, with India having dominated proceedings in the earlier matches.

Playing XIs

India: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana (c), Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur, Harleen Deol, Yastika Bhatia (wk), Deepti Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Jintimani Kalita, Vaishnavi Sharma.

Zimbabwe: Modester Mupachikwa (wk), Loryn Phiri, Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, Beloved Biza, Josephine Nkomo (c), Nyasha Gwanzura, Chiedza Dhururu, Michelle Mavunga, Nomvelo Sibanda, Tendai Makusha, Olinder Chare.

With the Champions Trophy and a South Africa tour on the horizon, the result in Vadodara will carry tactical significance beyond the scoreboard.