IND-W vs SL-W 3rd T20I: Shafali Verma’s 79* and Renuka’s 4-fer Seal Series for India.

IND-W vs SL-W 3rd T20I: Shafali Verma’s 79* and Renuka’s 4-fer Seal Series for India Get the full match report on Sportzons.

Sri Lanka Women Inning

India Women Inning

IND-W vs SL-W 3rd T20I: Shafali Verma’s 79 and Renuka’s 4-fer Seal Series for India*

Thiruvananthapuram, December 26, 2025 — India Women continued their ruthless dominance over Sri Lanka Women, clinching the five-match T20I series with two games to spare. A career-defining comeback spell by Renuka Singh Thakur and a breathtaking unbeaten 79 from the “Rohtak Rockball,” Shafali Verma, guided the Women in Blue to a commanding eight-wicket victory at the Greenfield International Stadium.

Renuka and Deepti Dismantle Sri Lanka

Winning the toss for the third consecutive time, Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur opted to bowl first, a decision that paid immediate dividends. Returning to the side after a brief hiatus, Renuka Singh Thakur looked like she had never been away. She exploited the early moisture in the Thiruvananthapuram pitch, swinging the ball both ways to leave the Sri Lankan top order in tatters.

Renuka’s opening burst accounted for the crucial wickets of Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Madavi in a single over, effectively breaking the backbone of the visitors’ batting. She finished with spectacular figures of 4/21, including a clinical maiden over to cap off her spell.

At the other end, veteran all-rounder Deepti Sharma made history. Chipping in with 3/18, Deepti moved level with Australia’s Megan Schutt as the leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20I history. The Sri Lankan batters appeared listless against the spin-and-seam combination, failing to build any significant partnerships. Aside from a gritty late effort by Kavisha Dilhari, no Sri Lankan batter crossed the 30-run mark, as the visitors were restricted to a meager 112/7 in their 20 overs.

The Shafali Verma Storm

Chasing 113 for a series win, India lost Smriti Mandhana early, but that only served as the cue for Shafali Verma to take center stage. What followed was a masterclass in power-hitting that left the Greenfield crowd in awe.

Shafali played with her trademark “see ball, hit ball” philosophy, but with an added layer of maturity. She reached her half-century in just 28 balls and didn’t slow down. Her unbeaten 79 off 42 deliveries was decorated with 11 boundaries and 3 towering sixes, operating at a strike rate of over 188.

Whether it was dancing down the track to loft the spinners over long-on or using her brute strength to muscle the pacers through the covers, Shafali was in total control. She found a steady partner in Harmanpreet Kaur (21*), who played the anchor role, allowing the young opener to unleash her full repertoire of shots.

Series Sealed in Style

India reached the target in just 13.2 overs, winning with 40 balls to spare. The win marks India’s third consecutive victory in the series, giving them an unassailable 3-0 lead.

For Sri Lanka, the tour has been a sobering experience. Their batting collapses have become a recurring theme, and captain Chamari Athapaththu will be searching for answers before the final two dead-rubber matches. For the hosts, however, the series has provided exactly what they needed: a firing top order and a bowling unit that looks lethal with the return of Renuka Singh.

match details

• Sri Lanka Women: 112/7 (20 overs) | Renuka Singh 4/21, Deepti Sharma 3/18.

• India Women: 115/2 (13.2 overs) | Shafali Verma 79*, Harmanpreet Kaur 21*.

• Result: India Women won by 8 wickets.