The Indian women's cricket team delivered a commanding performance on Friday, December 26, 2025, to secure an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the third T20I at Greenfield Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram. This win gave the hosts an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, with two games still to play.
Shafali Verma's Blazing Knock Seals The Chase
Chasing a modest target of 113, India's innings was dominated by the explosive Shafali Verma. The 21-year-old opener, who has been in sublime form since her recent recall to the national side, remained unbeaten on a scintillating 79 runs off just 42 balls. She launched India's chase aggressively, taking 14 runs off the opening over and racing to a 24-ball fifty. Despite the early dismissal of Smriti Mandhana for just 1 run, Verma's relentless assault ensured India never lost control.
She found able support from captain Harmanpreet Kaur, with whom she shared an unbroken 48-run partnership for the third wicket. The match was fittingly closed with a boundary, as India reached 115/2 in just 13.2 overs. This victory also marked a personal milestone for Harmanpreet Kaur, who became the most successful captain in women's T20I history with 77 wins, surpassing Australia's Meg Lanning.
Renuka Singh's Fiery Spell Sets Up The Win
The foundation for the comprehensive win was laid by the bowlers, led by pacer Renuka Singh Thakur. Playing her first match of the series, Renuka was exceptional, producing two incisive spells to finish with figures of 4 for 21 in her four overs. Her early strikes crippled the Sri Lankan top order, reducing them to 32/3 within the powerplay.
She was brilliantly supported by the returning Deepti Sharma, who recovered from illness to claim 3 wickets for 18 runs. Deepti's crucial intervention broke a budding partnership and also earned her a landmark 150th T20I wicket. Despite a brisk start from Hasini Perera, Sri Lanka's innings never gained momentum and they were restricted to a below-par 112 for 7 in their 20 overs.
A Clinical All-Round Display
The match underscored India's all-round supremacy. Unlike the second T20I in Vizag, the Thiruvananthapuram pitch offered less assistance to spin, allowing captain Kaur to use her pace attack more prominently. This strategic shift paid rich dividends, with Renuka and Deepti sharing seven wickets between them.
For Sri Lanka, the batting frailties continued. Captain Chamari Athapaththu fell cheaply for 3, and only Imesha Dulani (27) and Kaveesha Dilhari (20) offered some resistance. The visitors now face the task of regrouping for the final two matches, having been outplayed in all departments.
The Brief Scores from the match were: Sri Lanka 112/7 in 20 overs (Dulani 27; Renuka Singh 4/21, Deepti Sharma 3/18) lost to India 115/2 in 13.2 overs (Shafali Verma 79*, Kaveesha Dilhari 2/18).
