India’s head coach Amol Muzumdar has delivered a timely fitness boost ahead of the third T20I against Sri Lanka, confirming that star all-rounder Deepti Sharma is ready to return, while Jemimah Rodrigues is on track despite a minor niggle.
With the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side already leading 2-0 in the five-match series, from December 21 to 30, 2025, the newly crowned ICC Women’s ODI World Cup champions are fine-tuning their squad for the clash at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on December 26, 2025, starting 7 PM IST.
The series has showcased India’s batting firepower. In the opener, Jemimah Rodrigues anchored the chase with an unbeaten 69* off 44 balls, featuring 10 boundaries, earning Player of the Match honours.
Shafali Verma then stole the spotlight in the second T20I on December 23 in Vizag, smashing an unbeaten 69* off just 34 balls, including 11 boundaries and a six, to seal an eight-wicket victory while chasing 129 against Chamari Athapaththu’s Sri Lanka. These dominant wins have put India in pole position for clinching the T20I series.
Deepti Sharma, the 28-year-old all-rounder and freshly minted No.1 ranked T20I bowler, sat out the second match due to a fever but is now fully recovered. “Deepti is absolutely fine. She’s available and fit,” Muzumdar assured, signaling her return to bolster India’s already formidable attack and middle order.
Rodrigues, fresh off her match-winning knock in the first game, skipped a training session but remains in contention. Muzumdar downplayed concerns, noting, “Jemimah had a little bit of an issue, but I think she’s fine. She’s just resting today. The doctors and the physios are having a close look at her, monitoring her consistently. She should be fine. It’s just a mandatory rest that she wants.” Her final fitness call comes right up to the toss, ensuring maximum squad depth.
Under Muzumdar’s guidance, India continues strategic rotations to strike the perfect balance. This approach follows their historic triumph in the 13th ICC Women’s ODI World Cup final on November 2, 2025, at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, where they crushed South Africa by 52 runs to claim their maiden senior ICC title.
Eyes now turn to the 10th ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales from June 12 to July 5, 2026, where India hunts their first T20 crown. Muzumdar emphasized long-term peaking, “We tried to be as settled as possible during the ODI World Cup as well. Six months down the line, there is a T20 World Cup, and we are very well aware of certain things, what we need to do and in what direction we want to take this T20 side.”
He added, “Trying out a lot of stuff, making sure that we are well and truly settled before the (T20) World Cup. We consistently talk about improving in all the three facets of the game. In fact, there is a fourth one now, which is fitness. Nothing in particular about one facet of the game. We are a progressive side, constantly we are trying to improve day by day.”
With Deepti’s return and a series win in sight, Muzumdar’s charges are marching confidently toward global domination.
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