Indian pacer Mayank Yadav once again struck with the first ball of Zimbabwe's innings, dismissing Brian Bennett for a golden duck in the third T20I to repeat the feat he achieved in the series opener. Bowling at 147kph, Mayank produced a sharp short-of-a-length delivery that seamed away off the surface and climbed awkwardly. Bennett, caught on the back foot while trying to defend, could only manage an outside edge towards first slip. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi reacted brilliantly, diving to his left to complete a sharp chest-high catch.

The bowler celebrated in trademark fashion, leaping into the air with a roar after claiming yet another first-ball wicket. The pacer had first achieved the rare feat in the opening T20I on July 23, when he marked his return after a two-year injury layoff by dismissing Bennett with the very first delivery of the match. He went on to finish with impressive figures of 2/18.

Three days later, he produced an identical start, once again removing Bennett off the opening ball to continue his dream comeback.

With that breakthrough, Mayank equalled Bhuvneshwar Kumar's Indian record of taking a wicket with the first ball of a T20I innings on three occasions. He also moved ahead of Hardik Pandya, who has achieved the feat twice.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi stars as India complete 3-0 series win against Zimbabwe

India sealed a commanding 3-0 T20I series win over Zimbabwe with a 35 run victory in the third and final match. Asked to bat first, India posted 192/5, powered by 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's brilliant 81 off 49 balls. Zimbabwe finished on 157/7 despite an unbeaten 54 from Ryan Burl.

Sooryavanshi capped off a memorable tour with another impressive knock. After smashing an 18-ball maiden T20I fifty in the series opener and scoring 20 off nine balls in the second game, the teenager struck a four off the very first ball of the innings and reached his half-century in 31 deliveries. His 68 included six fours and four sixes before he was caught by Brad Evans off Madhevere on the final ball of the 14th over.

Zimbabwe's chase never gathered momentum after opener Brian Bennett and captain Sikandar Raza were both dismissed for golden ducks. A 60-run fifth-wicket partnership between Burl and Madhevere (28) offered some resistance but it was too little and they fell short by 35 runs. The victory marked a strong turnaround for India after T20I series defeats in Ireland and England, while Zimbabwe suffered their second successive series loss following a 2-1 defeat to Bangladesh.