Thiruvananthapuram, December 30, 2025 – The Indian Women’s Cricket Team has capped off a dream year by completing a dominant 5-0 series whitewash against Sri Lanka. In the final T20I held at the Greenfield International Stadium, the “Women in Blue” displayed nerves of steel to defend a competitive total, winning by 15 runs and asserting their status as a global powerhouse.
The Captain’s Masterclass: Harmanpreet Kaur Saves the Day
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Sri Lanka’s bowlers initially put India on the back foot. With star opener Smriti Mandhana rested, the top order wobbled, falling to 77/5 in the 11th over.
However, captain Harmanpreet Kaur proved once again why she is the backbone of the side. Smashing a brilliant 68 off 43 balls, she anchored the innings with tactical brilliance. A fiery late-order cameo from Arundhati Reddy (27* off 11 balls) provided the final flourish, propelling India to a formidable 175/7.
The Chase: Sri Lanka’s Valiant Effort Falls Short
Sri Lanka’s chase started poorly as captain Chamari Athapaththu fell early to Arundhati Reddy. Despite the early blow, Hasini Perera (65) and Imesha Dulani (50) stitched together a spirited partnership that kept the visitors in the hunt until the final five overs.
However, India’s bowling depth proved too strong. Deepti Sharma made history during her spell, surpassing Australia’s Megan Schutt to become the all-time leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20Is. Alongside Sneh Rana and debutant G Kamalini, the Indian attack tightened the screws in the death overs, restricting Sri Lanka to 160/7.
Series Highlights: A Year of Records
This 5-0 sweep is more than just a series win; it’s the perfect end to a year where India also clinched their maiden ODI World Cup.
- Shafali Verma was named Player of the Series for her explosive batting throughout the five matches.
- Player of the match Harmanpreet Kaur for Smashing a brilliant 68 off 43 balls
- Smriti Mandhana reached the 10,000 international runs milestone earlier in the series.
- Deepti Sharma now stands alone at the top of the T20I bowling charts with 152 wickets.
With the T20 World Cup scheduled for June 2026, this series victory provides Coach Amol Muzumdar’s side with immense confidence and a clear roadmap for the future.
