As the Women’s T20I series between India and Sri Lanka moves into its 4th WT20I, the spotlight once again turns to Sri Lanka’s players who have shown intent, resilience and flashes of quality despite the challenging results so far. With India asserting dominance through depth and form, Sri Lanka will look towards a few key individuals to stand up, absorb pressure and convert starts into meaningful contributions. Among them, Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari emerge as players to watch closely, not just for their numbers, but for the roles they play within the team structure.
Hasini Perera
Hasini Perera’s importance lies in her ability to provide calmness at the top of the order. A left-handed batter with over a decade of international exposure, Perera has featured in 87 WT20Is, scoring over 850 international T20 runs. While she may not be the most explosive opener in the modern T20 game, her value is rooted in anchoring innings and allowing stroke-makers around her to play with freedom. In the previous match of the series, Perera contributed a useful start with the bat, scoring 25 runs and showing positive intent during the powerplay before falling to disciplined Indian bowling. Her challenge in the 4th WT20I will be to convert those starts into a substantial knock, especially against India’s spin-heavy middle overs, where Sri Lanka have often struggled to maintain momentum.
Harshitha Samarawickrama
Harshitha Samarawickrama continues to be Sri Lanka’s most dependable batter in the shortest format. With more than 1,583 WT20I runs to her name at an average of 28.26, she has been a consistent performer across conditions and oppositions. Known for her composure and clean striking through the offside, Samarawickrama has repeatedly shouldered responsibility when early wickets have fallen. In the last match, she could only score 2 runs; however, she will fight back. While the scoreline may not reflect her impact, her ability to bat deep and rotate strike under pressure remains crucial. Heading into the 4th T20I, Sri Lanka will rely on her experience to anchor the innings and potentially build partnerships that have been missing so far in the series.
Kavisha Dilhari
Kavisha Dilhari adds a valuable all-round dimension to the Sri Lankan side and could play a defining role if allowed to influence both innings. Dilhari has featured in 72 WT20Is, contributing 586 runs and picking up 30 wickets. Her off spin has been particularly effective in slowing down scoring rates during the middle overs. In the previous match, she returned economical bowling figures, conceding just 18 runs and picking up 2 wickets, showcasing her control against high-quality Indian batters. She also scored 20 runs to support Sri Lanka’s batting innings. With the bat, she has shown the temperament to support senior players and finish innings when required. In the 4th WT20I, Dilhari’s dual role could prove decisive.
As Sri Lanka searches for momentum in the series, the performances of Perera, Samarawickrama and Dilhari will be closely monitored. Each of them brings a different skill set, stability at the top, assurance in the middle, and balance through all-around ability. While India remains firm favourites, cricket often rewards persistence and timing, and these three players possess the temperament to challenge the narrative if they rise to the occasion in the 4th WT20I.
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