India Women Seal Series with Dominant 8-Wicket Win Over Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 2025 : The Indian women’s cricket team continued its dominant run against Sri Lanka with a comprehensive eight-wicket victory at the Greenfield International Stadium on Friday, sealing the five-match T20I series with two games still to spare. With this emphatic win, India took an unassailable 3–0 lead, underlining their supremacy in all departments of the game.

Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss for the third consecutive time in the series and elected to field first, a decision that paid rich dividends as the Sri Lankan batting line-up struggled against disciplined Indian bowling. Put in to bat, Sri Lanka could manage only 112 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs.

Sri Lanka got off to a cautious start through openers Hasini Perera and captain Chamari Athapaththu, who added 25 runs in 4.3 overs. However, the early promise faded quickly when Athapaththu was dismissed for just three runs, triggering a dramatic collapse. By the time the score reached 45, the visitors had already lost four wickets, placing them firmly on the back foot.

Imesha Dulani attempted to steady the innings, stitching together a 40-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Kavisha Dilhari. Dulani showed composure during her knock, but her dismissal for 27 brought renewed trouble for Sri Lanka. Dilhari contributed a fighting 20, but once their partnership was broken, the Sri Lankan innings lost all momentum.

India’s bowlers were clinical, with Renuka Singh Thakur leading the charge. The pace spearhead returned impressive figures of 4 for 21, consistently troubling the batters with her movement and accuracy. Deepti Sharma provided excellent support, claiming 3 wickets for 18 runs and ensuring Sri Lanka never recovered.

Chasing a modest target, India made light work of the run chase, reaching 113 for 2 in just 13.2 overs. The Indian innings began with Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma opening the batting. The pair added 27 runs in 3.2 overs, but Mandhana departed early for just one run.

From there, Shafali Verma took complete control of the innings with an explosive display of batting. She added 40 runs for the second wicket with Jemimah Rodrigues, who chipped in with nine runs. Shafali then forged an unbroken 48-run partnership with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur for the third wicket, guiding India home with ease.

Shafali remained unbeaten on a stunning 79 off just 42 balls, an innings studded with three sixes and eleven fours. Her aggressive stroke play left the Sri Lankan bowlers with no answers. Harmanpreet provided calm support at the other end, scoring an unbeaten 21 off 18 balls. Kavisha Dilhari was the lone bright spot for Sri Lanka with the ball, picking up 2 wickets for 18 runs in her three overs.

India had earlier won the first match of the series by eight wickets and followed it up with a seven-wicket victory in the second game. With this third consecutive win, India clinched the series, while the remaining two matches will be played at the same venue on December 28 and 30.

Renuka Singh’s lethal spell and Shafali Verma’s explosive batting proved decisive once again, highlighting India’s depth and balance. The victory also marked a historic moment, as India sealed the series with two matches remaining, reflecting the growing dominance of the women’s team on the international stage.

Ahead of the match, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana spoke about the increased responsibility following India’s historic triumph at the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, where the team secured its first ICC trophy in senior women’s cricket. “It feels great to be called world champions,” Mandhana said. “That tag brings pride but also responsibility. It pushes us to prepare better and continue performing at a high level.”

Mandhana also achieved a personal milestone during the series, becoming the first Indian woman to cross 4,000 runs in T20 Internationals. Reflecting on her form, she said keeping things simple and trusting her strengths had been key. “I work hard on this format every day, and it feels good when that effort translates into performance,” she added.

Brief scores:
Sri Lanka Women 112/7 in 20 overs (Imesha Dulani 27, Hasini Perera 25; Renuka Singh Thakur 4/21, Deepti Sharma 3/18)
India Women 113/2 in 13.2 overs (Shafali Verma 79*, Harmanpreet Kaur 21*)

Team Maverick.