All-round India aim to seal series against struggling Sri Lanka

India’s women’s team will aim to continue their one-sided march and clinch a fourth straight win when they take on Sri Lanka in the fourth T20 International here on Sunday. Already 3-0 up in the five-match series, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side have dominated every department, leaving the visitors struggling to keep pace.

The gap between the two teams has been stark. India have chased comfortably in all three matches so far, never batting beyond 14.4 overs, never losing more than three wickets, and never facing a target higher than 129. Such numbers underline how little pressure the hosts have been under throughout the series.

India’s bowlers have laid the foundation for this dominance. Deepti Sharma has been impressive with her control and variation, picking up four wickets across two matches, while Renuka Singh Thakur matched that tally in a single outing at the Greenfield Stadium on Friday. The pace and spin units have worked in tandem, keeping Sri Lanka’s batters on a tight leash and denying them momentum.

The toss has also played a minor role. Harmanpreet won all three tosses and chose to field, allowing her bowlers to operate before the dew set in. But the bowlers have made full use of the conditions, never allowing any Sri Lankan batter to score more than 40 in an innings so far, a telling statistic in the shortest format.

India have also used the series to test their bench strength. Different combinations have been tried, with Arundhati Reddy featuring in the first two matches before Renuka was brought in for the third. The approach reflects long-term planning rather than short-term results.

“We are trying different combinations with the 2026 T20 World Cup in mind,” Renuka said after the last match. “After winning the ODI World Cup recently, we want to keep our standards high and maintain consistent performances.”

The batters have backed up the bowlers well. Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues have already struck half-centuries, ensuring that India’s chases have been swift and clinical. Their aggressive intent at the top has further reduced any chance of a Sri Lankan comeback.

One player who will be keen to make a bigger impact is Smriti Mandhana. The vice-captain has managed just 40 runs in three matches at a modest average and strike rate. Known for her elegance and attacking flair, Mandhana will be eager to deliver a commanding innings and rediscover her rhythm.

India may also consider giving opportunities to young Gunalan Kamalini and experienced Harleen Deol. With 13 squad members already having featured in the series, the team management might want to test the remaining options ahead of future tournaments.

For Sri Lanka, the focus will be on salvaging pride. Captain Chamari Athapaththu has carried the batting burden, but support from players like Hasini Perera, Kavisha Dilhari and Harshitha Samarawickrama has been limited. A defining innings from one of them could help restore some confidence.

Sri Lanka will also hope their young bowling attack, which has appeared overawed so far, can rise to the challenge and make things harder for the Indian batters.

The match begins at 7 pm, with India aiming to seal the series in emphatic fashion and Sri Lanka looking for a much-needed response.

Clear evening conditions are expected in Thiruvananthapuram, with no rain forecast and some dew likely to come into play as the match progresses.

The pitch at the Greenfield Stadium should be good for batting, with early help for seamers and spinners, while chasing remains an advantage due to dew.

Teams (from): India: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Richa Ghosh (WK), G Kamalini (WK), Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma.

Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (c) , Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshika De Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Imesha Dulani, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Malsha Shehani, Inoka Ranaweera, Shashini Gimhani, Nimesha Madushani, Kawya Kavindi, Rashmika Sewwandi, Malki Madara.

The match starts at 7 pm.