ZIM VS IND - 3rd ODI, India tour of Zimbabwe, 2022

Rahul receives the trophy and joins his team-mates and they pose for the photographs behind the 'CHAMPIONS' hoarding. India 3 -- 0 Zimbabwe. That's the scoreline that was predicted and the second-string Indian side have delivered it. Zimbabwe were thrashed in the first two ODIs and were in a precarious situation today as well. However, Raza, with his never-say-die attitude, took his team so close to the finishing line. If only he'd got more support from the top-and-middle-order batters ... they might have gained 10 WCSL points. Their next assignment is a 3-match ODI series against Australia away from home. India, on the other hand, will be kickstarting their Asia Cup campaign in less than a week. Plenty of action coming up. On that note, it's curtains down on this series. Until next time, it's goodbye from all of us down here...

KL Rahul: Feels good, we came here with a good ideas. We wanted to be out in the middle and use this time. They have been very professional, very happy with the result. They took the game deep, we would have liked to finish the game earlier. The bowers were tested and they held their nerves. Fielded about 120 overs, got some time out in the middle with the bat. I am tired coming back after a couple of months. But this is what we all want to do, playing for India. (On Gill) He's been batting well since the IPL. Very pleasing to the eye. Not seen him over-confident. That requires composure, to show that kind of temperament is good.

Regis Chakabva: Firstly congratulations to India. They played really well. Raza and Brad gave a good fight, but India held their nerves. Huge positives from the bowling. The boys fought hard in the field. We came back strongly from a tough situation. Raza was outstanding once again. We definitely take a lot of positives from today, we'll look to play some good cricket Down Under.

Shubman Gill | Player of the Match and Player of the Series: I was just trying to minimise my dot ball percentage. I tried to hit the gaps as much as possible. When I went in, there were a couple of bowlers bowling good. It was crucial to get through that. Once we were settled, we knew we could attack. The bat was pretty good. That's why I changed it after my 50, I wanted to save it. Definitely special (on hitting his maiden international ton). (Playing in this team) It feels great, great bunch of players. Feels good when you are with the same bunch. My father has been my primary coach. I got a schooling after I got out in the second ODI, so I dedicate this to him.

17:22 Local Time, 15:22 GMT, 20:52 IST: An incredible fighting knock from Raza, but India prevail to inflict a 3-0 series whitewash on Zimbabwe. Having won the series, India opted to bat for a change for the final game and posted 289 - thanks to a classy hundred from Gill who stitched a 140-run stand with half-centurion Ishan Kishan. In reply, the hosts lost Innocent Kaia early and Kaitano had to retire hurt. Sean Williams scored briskly by hitting a flurry of boundaries but his innings was cut short by Axar Patel in his first over. The two left-arm spinners bowled really well in the middle overs as they finished with combined figures of 20-1-68-4. Zimbabwe looked down and out at 169/7, but Raza had other ideas. He never gives up and that was the case again today as he notched up his third hundred in his last six ODIs. He played some outstanding stokes and put the Indians, the pacers in particular, under immense pressure. Brad Evans, who picked a fifer with the ball, turned out be a handy with the bat as he and Raza were involved in a century partnership for the eighth wicket. With 17 needed off the last two overs, Zimbabwe were the favourites, but Gill took a blinder at long-on to end Raza's innings and that turned out to be the killer blow. Avesh Khan, in the end, bowled a perfect yorker to finish the formalities as India eked out a 13-run win. The crowd were truly entertained by Raza but they'll be gutted with the result. Hang around for the presentations...

Avesh Khan to Nyauchi, out Bowled!! Avesh Khan nails the yorker. Nyauchi can't bring his bat down in time and the ball crashes into the base of the middle-stump. India win by 13 runs! Nyauchi b Avesh Khan 0(3)

Avesh Khan to Nyauchi, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Avesh Khan to Ngarava, 1 run, low full toss, sliced to the left of sweeper cover. Ngarava wants the second but gets sent back by Nyauchi

Avesh Khan to Ngarava, no run, wide yorker, Ngarava goes hard on the drive and fails to lay bat on ball. Beaten on the outside edge

Equation: 15 runs | 6 balls. Just 1 wicket in hand...

Thakur to Nyauchi, no run, and again! Pace off again, Nyauchi looks to pull and misses

Thakur to Nyauchi, no run, slower ball outside off, Nyauchi swings his bat and connects with thin air

Victor Nyauchi, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Thakur to Raza, out Caught by Shubman Gill!! Gill takes an amazing catch and Raza has to depart. That should be the killer blow. He walks off to a standing ovation. Incredible knock. Slower ball on a short of length, Raza swings hard to smash it over long-on but doesn't get the required elevation. Gill swoops in from long-on and times his forward-jump to perfection to snaffle it inches above the ground. Even the Indian players were seen congratulating Raza. Raza c Shubman Gill b Thakur 115(95) [4s-9 6s-3]

Thakur to Raza, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Thakur to Ngarava, 1 run, short of length, Ngarava is early to swing his bat and the ball dies down adjacent to the pitch off the inside edge. The batters steal a single. Thakur turns and has a shy at the bowler's end, misses

KL Rahul asks the keeper to remove his right glove so that he can throw the ball easily...

Thakur to Ngarava, no run, slower delivery on a length outside off, Ngarava swings and misses as the ball scoots under his blade

Thakur to Raza, 1 run, drilled over and past the bowler. Thakur stuck his left hand out but the ball eludes him. The batters settle for a single and rightly so

Richard Ngarava, left handed bat, comes to the crease