Relentless India women Seal Emphatic 5-0 Sweep While Sri Lanka Falter
India Women completed a comprehensive 5-0 sweep of the T20I series against Sri Lanka Women with a controlled victory in the Fifth T20 International at Thiruvananthapuram, underlining their dominance throughout the Sri Lanka Women tour of India 2025/26. Led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, India once again outperformed Sri Lanka in all departments to finish the series unbeaten.
The result marked India Women’s clean sweep 2025 in the shortest format and reinforced the depth and consistency of the current squad ahead of upcoming international assignments.
Toss Result and Match Conditions
Sri Lanka Women won the toss and elected to bowl first. Conditions at Thiruvananthapuram offered even bounce and value for shots, with minimal assistance for bowlers early in the evening. Despite opting to field, Sri Lanka were unable to contain India’s top order or apply sustained pressure.
India Women Batting Performance
India Women began steadily with Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma at the top. Mandhana relied on timing and placement, while Shafali took the aggressive option during the powerplay, forcing Sri Lanka to adjust their field early.
After Shafali’s dismissal, Jemimah Rodrigues maintained stability in the middle order. She rotated strike effectively and prevented Sri Lanka from building momentum through dot-ball pressure.
Harmanpreet Kaur entered with India well positioned and anchored the innings. The captain assessed the conditions carefully and paced her innings with clarity. Her shot selection against both pace and spin ensured India remained on course for a competitive total. Harmanpreet’s presence allowed the batters around her to play with freedom.
Richa Ghosh, playing as wicketkeeper, contributed late in the innings, adding valuable runs in the final overs to lift India’s scoring offense. Her ability to find boundaries under pressure has been a recurring feature of the series.
India also handed a T20I debut to Gunalan Kamalini, who received her Kamalini T20I debut cap. The batter G Kamalini, known as a consistent scorer in women’s cricket across domestic competitions including tournaments linked to Tamil Naduun, showed composure during her brief stay at the crease.
There were also positional adjustments, with Harleen Deol batting position discussed as part of India’s continued experimentation in a settled series.
Sri Lanka Women Bowling Analysis
Sri Lanka Women bowling first struggled to find consistent breakthroughs. Inoka Ranaweera and Malki Madara attempted to control the middle overs, while Kavisha Dilhari and Kaushini Nuthyangana were used to break partnerships.
Rashmika Sewwandi and Nimasha Meepage worked through the death overs but were unable to prevent India from accelerating. Despite varied bowling options, Sri Lanka lacked sustained control, allowing India’s total offense to build steadily.
Sri Lanka Women Chase
Sri Lanka Women began the chase with positive intent. Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama found early boundaries and kept the required rate manageable during the opening overs. Chamari Athapaththu followed with an attacking approach, attempting to take the game deep.
However, regular wickets disrupted Sri Lanka’s progress. Deepti Sharma was central to India’s bowling effort, delivering tight spells and applying pressure through accuracy and variation. Her control in the middle overs proved decisive.
Sneh Rana supported effectively, using flight and pace changes to restrict scoring. Arundhati Reddy provided pace and movement, while Amanjot Kaur, N Shree Charani, and Vaishnavi Sharma ensured pressure was maintained throughout the innings.
Nilakshika Silva and Imesha Dulani attempted to rebuild, but the required rate climbed steadily. Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket Team were unable to form any substantial partnerships, and the chase concluded short of the target.
Playing XI Depth and Team Balance
India’s Playing XI reflected squad depth and role clarity. Each player contributed within a defined framework, highlighting the strength of India Women’s Cricket Team and the effectiveness of long-term planning under the BCCI structure.
The integration of players from pathways such as the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy and the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup continued to strengthen the squad. The series also allowed India to assess combinations without compromising results.
Leadership and Series Overview
Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership remained a defining feature of the series. She rotated bowlers efficiently, backed younger players, and maintained composure in all match situations. Her calm approach allowed India to control games rather than react to them.
Observers, including national reporters such as Pete Thamel, noted the consistency and structure of India’s approach across the series. The IND-W vs SL-W contest highlighted a growing gap in execution between the two sides.
Sri Lanka Women Takeaways
For Sri Lanka Women, the tour proved challenging. While Chamari Athapaththu continued to lead from the front, greater support is required across batting and bowling departments. Players such as Kavisha Dilhari, Harshitha Samarawickrama, and Hasini Perera gained valuable experience against a strong opposition.
The series exposed areas requiring development, particularly bowling discipline and middle-order stability.
Match Report Summary
India Women secured the Fifth T20 International to complete a 5-0 sweep, maintaining control from start to finish. The result capped a dominant series performance built on batting depth, disciplined bowling, and consistent leadership.
The outcome reinforces India’s position as a leading force in women’s T20 cricket and provides momentum heading into future international fixtures.
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