It was a five-wicket haul that came with a cinematic twist. As Zimbabwe's batting lineup crumbled in Vadodara, wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia was overheard shouting a line from Gangs of Wasseypur 2 at left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma: "Vaishu, sabka badla lena hai. Baap ka, dada ka, bhai ka." The reference to Faizal's iconic revenge dialogue was more than a joke—it was a premonition. Vaishnavi responded by dismantling the Zimbabwe attack, finishing with a maiden ODI five-fifer of 5/39 in 10 overs.
The spell was a masterclass in flight and deception. Vaishnavi repeatedly tossed the ball up, baiting the Zimbabwe batters into swinging wildly. Opener Modester Mupachikwa, who had been in form, was stumped after stepping out of her crease for a wide, flighted delivery. The final wicket sealed the haul: Nyasha Gwanzura tried a slog sweep, but the ball ricocheted off her pads and hit the stumps. It was the last ball of her spell, and it was perfect.
Zimbabwe's collapse was built on early soft dismissals. Pacer Sayali Satghare struck in her first over, getting Loryn Phiri to edge down the leg side. Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano followed, cutting a Shafali Verma delivery straight to point. By the time Vaishnavi took control, the visitors were already under pressure. Mupachikwa was the only one to offer any resistance, scoring 37 off 48 balls, but her dismissal left the team in disarray.
With the series already secured, India made three changes to the XI, bringing in Harleen Deol, Yastika, and Kranti Gaud. Gaud had been rested for the second ODI. Alongside Vaishnavi, Satghare and Gaud picked up two wickets each. The 20-year-old spinner had already taken four wickets in the second ODI at the same venue, and this performance cements her as a key asset in India's white-ball lineup.
India's next challenge will be the fourth ODI, where they will look to extend their dominance and build momentum for the upcoming series.