Kranti Gaud took a splendid catch to dismiss Loryn Phiri during the first Women's ODI.

Gaud moved towards the ball and completed an impressive diving catch in front of her, turning her bowling effort into a memorable dismissal.

The ODI series between India Women and Zimbabwe Women has begun at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi, Vadodara, on Friday. With the visitors opting to bat first, India looked to make early inroads and put pressure on the opposition. Pacer Kranti Gaud delivered an important breakthrough in the opening overs, producing a brilliant caught-and-bowled dismissal to send Loryn Phiri back to the pavilion. The wicket gave India an early boost as the hosts looked to establish control over the contest.

Kranti Gaud plucks a stunner to dismiss Loryn Phiri

Gaud provided India with an early breakthrough in the third over of the innings, showcasing her sharp reflexes and athleticism to dismiss Zimbabwe opener Phiri. On the third delivery of her second over, Gaud bowled a short and quick delivery around middle and leg stump. Phiri attempted to pull the ball away but was hurried by the extra pace and bounce. Unable to maintain her balance and execute the shot properly, the Zimbabwe batter got a top edge.

Gaud immediately moved towards the ball and completed an impressive diving catch in front of her, turning her bowling effort into a memorable dismissal. The Indian pacer showed excellent awareness and commitment to hold on to the difficult chance. The wicket was an encouraging moment for the Indian team, which was keen to capitalise on the decision to bowl first. Gaud’s effort also highlighted the importance of taking chances in the early stages of an ODI innings, particularly when the opposition is attempting to build a steady foundation.

Here’s the video:

Kranti Gaud strikes early! 💥

A fiery short ball setup followed by a brilliant dive & catch to get the first wicket for Team India! 🇮🇳⚡️#INDvZIM 1st ODI | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/j7alcnAwng pic.twitter.com/Fcs89u6Dk7

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 23, 2026

Zimbabwe in trouble after disciplined Indian bowling

Zimbabwe Women struggled to establish momentum during the opening 25 overs, with India’s disciplined bowling attack regularly troubling the visiting batters. At the end of 25 overs, Zimbabwe had reached 99 runs for the loss of four wickets. The regular dismissals prevented the visitors from building a substantial partnership and left them with considerable work to do in the remaining half of their innings.

India’s bowlers maintained pressure by picking up wickets at important moments, ensuring that Zimbabwe could not settle into a comfortable rhythm. Gaud’s breakthrough was particularly significant, as it gave the hosts an early advantage and helped set the tone for the innings. With four wickets already down, Zimbabwe will need their remaining batters to show greater composure and form meaningful partnerships if they are to post a competitive total. Rebuilding the innings while maintaining a reasonable scoring rate will be crucial for the visitors.

India, meanwhile, will be eager to extend their advantage by continuing to bowl with discipline and exploiting any further opportunities. The hosts will aim to restrict Zimbabwe to a manageable total and carry the momentum into their batting innings. With plenty of overs still remaining, the contest remains open, but India have given themselves a promising start through disciplined bowling and Gaud’s outstanding individual effort.

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.