The first three T20Is have been a masterclass in clinical cricket for India, who have already wrapped up the series with an unassailable 3-0 lead against Sri Lanka. India’s bowling attack has been the star of the show, restricting Sri Lanka to modest scores of 121, 128, and 112 in the matches played so far. In response, the Indian batters have chased these targets down with ease, never losing more than three wickets in an innings or needing more than 15 overs to get the job done. It has been one-way traffic, leaving the visitors searching for a way to break through India’s top order.
Shafali Verma has been in scintillating form, leading the run charts with back-to-back fifties, including an unbeaten 79 off just 42 balls in the 3rd T20I. On the bowling front, Renuka Singh Thakur made a triumphant return to the format in the last game, dismantling the Sri Lankan top order with a devastating spell of 4/21 at the Greenfield Stadium—a ground she calls her “lucky place”. For Sri Lanka, while Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama have shown flashes of aggression at the start, they haven’t been able to convert those starts into the big individual scores needed to challenge the Indian total.
Squads:
India Women’s Cricket Team
Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Richa Ghosh, G Kamalini, Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma
Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket Team
Chamari Athapaththu, Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshika de Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Imesha Dulani, Kaushini Nuthyanganha, Malsha Shehani, Inoka Ranaweera, Shashini Gimhani, Nimesha Madushani, Kawya Kavindi, Rashmika Sewwandi, Malki Madara
Players to watch out:
Shafali Verma
Shafali has been in a league of her own this series, completely overwhelming the Sri Lankan bowling attack. Across three matches, she has amassed 157 runs at a massive strike rate of 193.82, including two unbeaten fifties. Her best performance came in the 3rd T20I, where she smashed 79* off just 42 balls, anchoring the chase and helping India seal the series 3-0.
Hasini Perera
Hasini has been one of the few bright spots in the Sri Lankan batting lineup, often trying to provide quick starts at the top. She has scored 67 runs in the series so far, with the highest score of 25 in the 3rd T20I. While her average sits at 22.33, her ability to find the boundary early—hitting 10 fours in the series—has been crucial for Sri Lanka’s powerplay momentum.
Renuka Singh Thakur
After a long time away, Renuka made a spectacular return to the side, proving why she is India’s premier swing bowler. In her only appearance of the series so far (the 3rd T20I), she dismantled the Lankan line-up with a brilliant spell of 4/21. Her ability to bowl a maiden over and strike consistently gives her an incredible strike rate of 6.00 and an average of just 5.25 in this series.
Kavisha Dilhari
Kavisha has proven to be a vital all-rounder for Sri Lanka, contributing in both departments during tough games. She has picked up 3 wickets in 3 matches, with her best figures of 2/18 coming in the most recent game where she managed to dismiss Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues. On the batting front, she has added valuable runs in the middle order, including a brisk 20 off 13 balls to help her team cross the 100-run mark.
Pitch:
The pitch at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram offers a balanced challenge, favoring bowlers early with pace and bounce. Fast bowlers exploit initial moisture and swing, while spinners gain grip as cracks develop later in the day.
Weather:
The weather in Thiruvananthapuram stays typical for late December, with highs near 31°C and high humidity. Expect partly cloudy skies but with clear skies, we are in for a complete game of cricket.
Fantasy Playing XI:
Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Chamari Athapaththu, Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunaratne, Nilakshika de Silva, Kavisha Dilhari
Match Details:
Date – December 28, 2025
Time – 7:00 PM IST
Venue – Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
Broadcast – Telecast on Star Sports Network | Streaming on Jio Hotstar (India)
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