India's women's cricket team delivered a commanding performance to secure a series victory against Sri Lanka, winning the third T20 International by eight wickets in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. This win gave them an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, showcasing a new, assertive brand of cricket.
A Strategic Shift Towards Aggression
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur revealed that this series was a deliberate step in the team's evolution. With the T20 World Cup scheduled for England and Wales from June 12 to July 5 next year, the team's primary aim was to adopt a more aggressive mindset in the shortest format. "It was a great series for all of us," Harmanpreet stated during the post-match presentation. "That's what we discussed after the (ODI) World Cup – that we have to raise our standard and be more aggressive in T20s because the World Cup is coming up. We are very happy with our overall performances."
The victory in Thiruvananthapuram was clinical. After restricting Sri Lanka to a modest total, the Indian batters chased down the target with ease, losing only two wickets in the process.
Bowlers Earn Captain's Praise
Harmanpreet Kaur was effusive in her praise for the bowling unit, which consistently kept the Sri Lankan batters in check throughout the series. "I think the contribution from our bowlers has been a highlight," she emphasized. "In T20 cricket, bowling is very important. Today we are in this position because of our bowlers, so credit goes to them."
The captain specifically highlighted the planned rotation of bowlers and the spectacular comeback of pacer Renuka Singh Thakur, who returned impressive figures of 4 for 21. "First six overs, we know their top order was very important. Today we wanted to go with Renuka because she can give us these breakthroughs," Harmanpreet explained. "The first over wasn't something we expected, but the way she came back and picked four wickets was great."
Contrasting Fortunes: Sri Lanka's Struggles
While India celebrated their successful strategy, Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu conceded her team had underperformed, particularly with the bat. "I feel we are not playing our best cricket throughout the tournament. As a batting unit we have struggled a lot, so we need to improve there," she admitted.
Athapaththu did note some positives, mentioning the batting of Imesha Dulani and Kavisha Dilhari in the third match. However, she confirmed the team is still in a phase of experimentation, looking to try out players before the global tournament next year.
This series win marks a confident start to India's build-up for the 2025 T20 World Cup. Having recently clinched their maiden ODI World Cup title, the Women in Blue are clearly intent on carrying their winning momentum and newly forged aggressive intent into the next major challenge on the international calendar.
