The BCA Stadium pitch report for the INDW vs ZIMW 3rd ODI points to a flat, batting-friendly surface, with batters likely to score heavily and spinners gaining some control in the middle overs. A first-innings score of around 275 is par based on the venue average of 276, though India reached 328/6 here in the 2nd ODI. Weather is not a worry, with a sunny, dry afternoon forecast and a high of about 34°C. The match is on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 2:00 PM local time (2:00 PM IST, 8:30 AM GMT) in Vadodara, with the toss expected at 1:30 PM IST.
India lead the three-match ODI series 2-0. They won the 1st ODI by nine wickets, chasing 198 in 27.1 overs. They then won the 2nd ODI by 121 runs after posting 328/6, with Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma both scoring centuries. Smriti Mandhana leads India, and Josephine Nkomo captains Zimbabwe. In India, live streaming is on JioHotstar, and the TV broadcast is on the Star Sports Network.
BCA Stadium Pitch Report for INDW vs ZIMW 3rd ODI
| Factor | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Pitch type | Flat and batting-friendly, with runs available throughout the first innings |
| Par first-innings score | Around 275 (venue average: 276) |
| Best for batting | The first innings, though the average second-innings score is lower |
| Fast bowlers | New ball in the first 10 overs, though no pace or swing data was available |
| Spinners | Can help control the middle overs, with Shree Charani, Deepti Sharma and Vaishnavi Sharma all among the wickets in this series |
| Boundaries | To be confirmed |
| Dew | Humidity is low at 32%, so heavy dew looks unlikely, though this is not confirmed |
| Toss advantage | Batting first and bowling first have each won 3 ODIs here |
Phase-by-Phase Pitch Behaviour
| Phase | How the Pitch Is Likely to Play |
|---|---|
| Powerplay (1 to 10) | Early wickets can swing the game, as India lost Smriti Mandhana in the first over of the 2nd ODI and were 19/2. The new ball is the best chance for bowlers to strike before the pitch settles |
| Middle overs (11 to 40) | Spinners can help control the scoring. Shree Charani took 4/23 in the 1st ODI, and Vaishnavi Sharma took four wickets in the 2nd ODI |
| Death overs (41 to 50) | Scoring should rise, as Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma added 153 for the fifth wicket in the 2nd ODI |
| Second innings | The average is 204, and the highest chase is 306/6 in 49 overs by India against New Zealand |
How the Pitch Plays at BCA Stadium
Details on the soil, bounce and grass cover have not been confirmed. The venue stats show 6 ODIs, with 3 won batting first and 3 won bowling first. Scores drop in the chase, from an average of 276 in the first innings to 204 in the second. These figures appear to include a men’s ODI between India and New Zealand, so the women’s averages may differ.
The highest total here is 358/5 in 50 overs by India Women against West Indies Women, and the highest chase is 306/6 in 49 overs by India against New Zealand. The lowest total is 103/10 in 26.2 overs by West Indies Women against India Women, and the lowest score defended is 328/6 by India Women against Zimbabwe Women. Big totals have been common, but the ground has also produced a one-sided collapse.
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Vadodara Weather Forecast for INDW vs ZIMW 3rd ODI
The forecast for Wednesday points to a sunny, dry and hot afternoon, followed by a cooler evening.
| Detail | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Conditions | Sunny |
| Temperature | 34°C high, 22°C low, with about 29°C at 7 PM and 25°C at 10 PM |
| Rain chance | 5% |
| Humidity | 32% |
| Wind | 21 km/h |
Rain is very unlikely to affect the match, so a full 50-over game is expected. The heat will be the main challenge in the afternoon, especially for fielders and the side batting second, and temperatures fall by around 9°C through the evening. A wind of 21 km/h could affect high shots and catches, and humidity of 32% points to a dry outfield with little help for bowlers from moisture.
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BCA Stadium ODI Records and Stats
| Record | Details |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 6 |
| Won batting first | 3 |
| Won chasing | 3 |
| Average first-innings score | 276 |
| Average second-innings score | 204 |
| Highest total | 358/5 (50 overs) by India Women vs West Indies Women |
| Lowest total | 103/10 (26.2 overs) by West Indies Women vs India Women |
| Highest score chased | 306/6 (49 overs) by India vs New Zealand |
| Lowest score defended | 328/6 (50 overs) by India Women vs Zimbabwe Women |
The ground has a capacity of 40,000 and hosts Baroda in domestic cricket. It is also known as Kotambi Stadium and Vadodara International Cricket Stadium.
INDW vs ZIMW Head-to-Head
| Matches | India Won | Zimbabwe Won | Tie or No Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
India won the T20I series 3-0 in Raipur and then won both ODIs played so far in Vadodara.
What Should the Captains Do at BCA Stadium?
Bat first if the toss is won. The average second-innings score here is 204 against a first-innings average of 276, and India defended 328 in the 2nd ODI. Rain is not a concern, and humidity of 32% means heavy dew looks unlikely, so the chasing side should not get much help from the conditions. Use the new ball well in the powerplay, because early wickets put the batting side under pressure, as India found when they slipped to 19/2 in the 2nd ODI before recovering. Use spin in the middle overs to slow the scoring, as both sides have quality spinners in Shree Charani, Deepti Sharma, Vaishnavi Sharma and Nomvelo Sibanda. Plan for the heat and wind, with a high of 34°C and gusts of 21 km/h, which can make fielding and catching harder in the afternoon.
Also Read: INDW vs ZIMW 3rd ODI 2026: List of Umpires
