The World Champions India will meet asian rivals Sri Lanka in a 5 Match T20I Series that starts 21 December. In this article, we take a look at Top 3 players from Sri Lanka who could be game-changers.
Chamari Athapaththu
The legendary captain is the only Sri Lankan woman with a T20I century to her name, and her career total of 3,458 T20I runs tells only half the story. She has three centuries to her name with an unbeaten score of 119 to her name as well. Chamari is a genuine dual-threat, having picked up 63 T20I wickets with her crafty off-breaks with best bowling figures of 4 for 29. She remains a high-impact player, proving that her power-hitting hasn’t waned with age. As a World No. 6 ranked T20I batter, she is the one player capable of taking the game away from India in a single ten-over burst. For Sri Lanka to stand a chance tomorrow, they need a “big game” performance from their skipper to put the Indian bowlers under early pressure. As a pioneer for her country in global T20 leagues, she won’t be intimidated by the world-champion Indian side.
Harshitha Samarawickrama
Harshitha has emerged as the most reliable secondary scorer for the island nation, amassing 1,527 T20I runs at a solid average of 28 and an unbeaten highest score of 86. She was the hero of the Asia Cup final, where her unbeaten 69 off 51 balls* stunned the Indian side. Her recent form in 2024-25 has been electric, including a career-best 86 against Ireland*. Unlike the aggressive Chamari, Harshitha’s game is built on precision and finding gaps, making her the perfect anchor for the Sri Lankan middle order. She provides the stability that allows the likes of Chamari to play with freedom at the other end. If Sri Lanka loses early wickets tomorrow, the responsibility of stabilizing the ship will fall squarely on her shoulders.
Inoka Ranaweera
The veteran left-arm spinner is the tactical leader of the Sri Lankan bowling unit, currently holding 92 T20I wickets with a best of 4/7. She is also a very economical bowler with an economy rate of 5.90 and an average of 18.33. She has been particularly troublesome for India in recent encounters, including a fiery 4-wicket haul in the 2025 ODI World Cup group stage. Ranked among the top 50 bowlers globally, her discipline is her greatest strength, often forcing batters into mistakes by denying them pace. In the middle overs, her battle against the likes of Mandhana and Harmanpreet will likely decide how many runs Sri Lanka will have to chase. Her experience will be vital in keeping India’s run rate in check. She remains one of the most disciplined bowlers in the world, often finishing her four overs with an economy that keeps her team in the hunt. She will be one of the key bowler for Sri Lanka going into the series
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