Report on the 4th T20I between India Women and Sri Lanka Women (2025/26 Series)
Toss: Sri Lanka chose to bowl against India in the fourth T20I in Thiruvananthapuram.
In a significant moment for the touring side, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu won the toss for the first time in the current five-match T20I series and immediately opted to field first in Thiruvananthapuram. The decision was motivated by the expectation of dew, which often makes chasing easier. India had already secured an unassailable 3-0 lead prior to this encounter.
Team Changes and Strategy
Both sides announced two changes to the teams that played the previous match in Visakhapatnam. For India, the change was partly forced: Number 3 batter Jemimah Rodrigues was ruled out due to general weakness resulting from a mild fever. Harleen Deol stepped in to take her place. Additionally, India made a tactical rotation, resting Kranti Gaud and bringing Arundhati Reddy back into the starting XI after she missed the third T20I.
Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur admitted that the hosts also desired to bat first, but expressed confidence that her team would nevertheless set a competitive target for the Sri Lankans.
Sri Lanka’s changes saw seamer Kawya Kavindi and all-rounder Rashmika Sewwandi join the lineup, replacing left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera and seamer Malki Madara. Athapaththu, celebrating her 150th T20I appearance for Sri Lanka, targeted restricting India to around 140 runs, banking on the ease of batting in the second innings.
Playing XIs
India Squad
- 1 Smriti Mandhana
- 2 Shafali Verma
- 3 Harleen Deol
- 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt.)
- 5 Richa Ghosh (wk)
- 6 Deepti Sharma
- 7 Amanjot Kaur
- 8 Renuka Singh
- 9 Arundhati Reddy
- 10 Vaishnavi Sharma
- 11 Shree Charani
Sri Lanka Squad
- 1 Chamari Athapaththu (capt.)
- 2 Hasini Perera
- 3 Harshitha Samarawickrama
- 4 Imesha Dulani
- 5 Nilakshika Silva
- 6 Kaushini Nuthyangana (wk)
- 7 Kavisha Dilhari
- 8 Rashmika Sewwandi
- 9 Kawya Kavindi
- 10 Malsha Snehani
- 11 Nimasha Meepage
