Wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia Channels Bollywood Cult Classic to Spur Vaishnavi Sharma to Maiden ODI Fifer

VADODARA — During the third women’s ODI against Zimbabwe in Vadodara, Indian wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia offered an entertaining motivational pep talk from behind the stumps, referencing an iconic Bollywood quote to fire up teammate Vaishnavi Sharma.

As Vaishnavi began unsettling the visiting lineup, Bhatia was caught on the stump microphone urging her on: “Vaishu sabka badla lena hai. Baap ka, dada ka, bhai ka.” The phrase is an adaptation of Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s renowned dialogue from the film Gangs of Wasseypur 2, in which his character, Faizal, vows to avenge his family members.

The encouragement paid immediate dividends as the 20-year-old spinner dismantled the Zimbabwe batting order, claiming her maiden five-wicket haul in One Day Internationals. Vaishnavi returned figures of 5 for 39 in her 10 overs, securing her fifth wicket on the very final delivery of her spell. Her performance followed a four-wicket outing in the previous match at the same venue.

Zimbabwe Innings Unravels

Opting to flight the ball generously, Vaishnavi consistently lured the Zimbabwean batters into miscued strokes as the visitors collapsed to 131 all out. Wicketkeeper-batter Modester Mupachikwa top-scored for the side with a 48-ball 37, but the rest of the batting order offered limited resistance.

Zimbabwe encountered early trouble through quick dismissals. Medium pacer Sayali Satghare struck in her opening over by removing opener Loryn Phiri, who feathered an edge down the leg side. Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano departed soon after, slicing a standard delivery from Shafali Verma directly to point.

Vaishnavi subsequently dominated the middle overs. After removing Beloved Biza, she outfoxed the set Mupachikwa by tossing a delivery wide outside off stump as the batter stepped down the track, allowing Bhatia to complete a sharp stumping. Her fifth wicket arrived when Nyasha Gwanzura attempted a slog sweep, only for the ball to rebound off her pads and crash into the stumps.

Complete Bowling Effort

Complementing Vaishnavi’s five-wicket haul, Satghare and Kranti Gaud claimed two wickets apiece to wrap up the innings.

Having already clinched the bilateral series, the Indian team management made three alterations to their playing lineup for the dead rubber, bringing in Harleen Deol, Yastika Bhatia, and Kranti Gaud, with Gaud returning after being rested in the second game.