IND W vs SL W 5th T20I: Deepti Sharma Creates History as India Seal 5-0 Whitewash

The fifth and final T20 International between India Women (IND W) and Sri Lanka Women (SL W) on December 30, 2025, at Thiruvananthapuram’s Greenfield International Stadium wasn’t just another series finale—it was a historic occasion that witnessed individual brilliance, team dominance, and the emergence of new talent. India’s comprehensive victory secured a 5-0 series whitewash, while all-rounder Deepti Sharma etched her name in cricket history by becoming the leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20 Internationals.

This comprehensive analysis delves into every aspect of the IND W vs SL W 5th T20I, providing insights, statistics, and expert perspectives on a match that will be remembered as a turning point in women’s cricket.

Match Overview: The Road to a Historic Whitewash

Series Context and Build-up –

India entered the fifth T20I with an unassailable 4-0 lead, having dominated the series from the outset. Sri Lanka, despite showing moments of promise, had been unable to challenge India’s supremacy across the first four matches. The final game presented both teams with distinct objectives: India sought a historic whitewash, while Sri Lanka aimed to salvage pride and build for the future.

Series Scorecard Before 5th T20I:

Match	Venue	Result	Margin	Player of Match
1st T20I	Mumbai	India won	45 runs	Harmanpreet Kaur
2nd T20I	Navi Mumbai	India won	8 wickets	Smriti Mandhana
3rd T20I	Ahmedabad	India won	34 runs	Shafali Verma
4th T20I	Ahmedabad	India won	6 wickets	Richa Ghosh
IND W vs SL W 5th T20I	Thiruvananthapuram	India won	21 runs	Deepti Sharma

Table 1: Complete series results leading to the IND W vs SL W 5th T20I

Toss and Team Selection –

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu won the toss and elected to bowl first—a decision influenced by the positive aspects of their previous game and the desire to give youngsters exposure against world champions.

India made strategic changes, resting key players Smriti Mandhana and Renuka Singh Thakur, giving opportunities to debutant G Kamalini and bringing back Sneh Rana. This rotation policy demonstrated India’s squad depth and forward-thinking approach.

Team Composition Analysis:

IND W vs SL W 5th T20I Playing XIs –

India Women (IND W) Playing XI:

1. Shafali Verma
2. G Kamalini (Debut)
3. Richa Ghosh (WK)
4. Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain)
5. Harleen Deol
6. Deepti Sharma
7. Amanjot Kaur
8. Sneh Rana
9. Arundhati Reddy
10. Vaishnavi Sharma
11. Shree Charani

Sri Lanka Women (SL W) Playing XI:

1. Hasini Perera
2. Chamari Athapaththu (Captain)
3. Imesha Dulani
4. Harshitha Samarawickrama
5. Kavisha Dilhari
6. Nilakshika Silva
7. Rashmika Sewwandi
8. Kaushani Nuthyangana (WK)
9. Nimasha Madushani
10. Inoka Ranaweera
11. Malki Madara

IND W vs SL W 5th T20I Squad Comparison: (Experience vs Emerging Talent)

Parameter	India Women	Sri Lanka Women
Average Age	24.6 years	25.3 years
T20I Caps (Average)	42.7	28.4
Players Under 23	4	3
International Debutants	1 (Kamalini)	0
Captain’s Experience	118 T20Is	94 T20Is

Table 2: IND W vs SL W 5th T20I Squad composition and experience comparison

IND W vs SL W 5th T20I First Innings: India’s Batting Performance

Powerplay Analysis (Overs 1-6)

India got off to a cautious start, scoring 40 runs while losing two wickets in the powerplay. The absence of Smriti Mandhana was noticeable, but debutant G Kamalini showed glimpses of promise before departing.

Powerplay Comparison (First Innings):

Over	Runs	Cumulative	Wickets	Key Moments
1	4	4/0	0	Steady start
2	8	12/0	0	First boundary
3	9	21/1	1	Kamalini debut wicket
4	7	28/1	1	Building phase
5	8	36/2	2	Shafali departs
6	4	40/2	2	End of powerplay

*Table 3: Over-by-over powerplay analysis*

Middle Overs (7-15): The Harmanpreet Kaur Show

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur played a captain’s innings, stabilizing the Indian innings after early setbacks. Her partnership with Richa Ghosh (28 off 22) provided the foundation for a competitive total.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s Innings Breakdown:

Phase	Runs	Balls	Strike Rate	Boundaries
Overs 1-6	12	10	120.0	2
Overs 7-10	18	12	150.0	3
Overs 11-15	25	14	178.6	4
Overs 16-20	13	7	185.7	1
Total	68	43	158.1	10

Table 4: Harmanpreet Kaur’s innings progression

Death Overs (16-20): Accelerating to a Competitive Total

India’s lower order, led by Deepti Sharma (16* off 10), provided the final flourish, adding 45 runs in the last five overs to reach 175/7—a challenging target on any surface.

Second Innings: Sri Lanka’s Chase

The Chase Begins: Early Setback

Sri Lanka started positively, with Hasini Perera and Chamari Athapaththu looking comfortable. However, Athapaththu’s dismissal in the 2nd over to a spectacular catch by Deepti Sharma gave India the early breakthrough they needed.

Key Dismissal Analysis:

• Batsman: Chamari Athapaththu
• Score: 9 (8 balls)
• Bowler: Arundhati Reddy
• Fielder: Deepti Sharma
• Significance: Sri Lanka captain removed early, psychological advantage to India

The Perera-Dulani Partnership: Sri Lanka’s Hope

Hasini Perera and Imesha Dulani rebuilt the innings with a 74-run partnership that kept Sri Lanka in the hunt. Both batters scored maiden T20I half-centuries, showcasing their potential for the future.

Partnership Analysis:

Aspect	Hasini Perera	Imesha Dulani
Partnership Contribution	55 runs	54 runs
Balls Faced	47	39
Strike Rate	117.0	138.5
Boundary Ratio	7 boundaries	8 boundaries
Milestone	Maiden T20I fifty	Maiden T20I fifty

Table 5: Comparative analysis of Perera and Dulani’s innings

The Turning Point of IND W vs SL W 5th T20I: Middle Overs Collapse

The partnership was broken in the 11th over when Amanjot Kaur dismissed Dulani. What followed was a collapse that saw Sri Lanka lose 4 wickets for 28 runs, effectively ending their chase.

Collapse Analysis (Overs 11-16):

Over	Batter	Score	How Out	Score at Wicket
11.1	Imesha Dulani	54	Caught Shafali	83/2
13.3	Nilakshika Silva	7	LBW Deepti	101/3
14.3	Kavisha Dilhari	12	Bowled Vaishnavi	116/4
16.2	Harshitha Samarawickrama	8	Run Out	134/5

*Table 6: Sri Lanka’s middle-overs collapse*

Deepti Sharma’s Historic Achievement:

The Record-Breaking Moment –

In the 13th over of Sri Lanka’s innings, Deepti Sharma trapped Nilakshika Silva LBW to claim her 152nd T20I wicket, surpassing Australia’s Megan Schutt (151) to become the leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20 International history.

Deepti’s Record-Breaking Journey:

Milestone	Wicket Number	Opponent	Date	Venue
First T20I Wicket	1	Bangladesh	April 1, 2014	Mirpur
50th T20I Wicket	50	South Africa	February 16, 2018	Potchefstroom
100th T20I Wicket	100	England	July 11, 2021	Northampton
150th T20I Wicket	150	Sri Lanka	December 28, 2025	Ahmedabad
World Record	152	Sri Lanka	December 30, 2025	Thiruvananthapuram

Table 7: Deepti Sharma’s milestone wickets

Statistical Analysis of Deepti’s Bowling:

Deepti Sharma's Bowling Evolution
│
├─────────────────────────────────────────────
│
│ 2014-2016: ███ 21 wickets @ 18.52
│
│ 2017-2019: █████████ 58 wickets @ 16.34
│
│ 2020-2022: ████████ 46 wickets @ 19.87
│
│ 2023-2025: █████ 27 wickets @ 21.33
│
│ Total: ███████████████ 152 wickets @ 18.64
│
└─────────────────────────────────────────────

Graph 2: Deepti Sharma’s bowling progression by phases

Deepti’s Match Performance of IND W vs SL W 5th T20I:

• Overs: 4
• Runs: 24
• Wickets: 3
• Economy: 6.00
• Dots: 11
• Key Contribution: World record + crucial breakthroughs

Match Impact Analysis:

Player of the Match Contenders –

Several players put in match-winning performances:

Performance Comparison:

Player	Runs	Balls	Wickets	Economy	Fielding	Impact Score*
Harmanpreet Kaur	68	43	–	–	Good captaincy	8.5/10
Deepti Sharma	16*	10	3/24	6.00	Spectacular catch	9.2/10
Hasini Perera	64	47	–	–	Good fielding	7.8/10
Imesha Dulani	54	39	–	–	–	7.5/10
Amanjot Kaur	–	–	1/24	8.00	Good fielding	6.5/10

Table 8: Player performance comparison (Impact Score: author’s assessment)

*Impact Score considers match situation, pressure handling, and game-changing contributions.

Team Performance Metrics –

India’s Strengths in the Match:

1. Batting Depth: Contributions throughout the order
2. Spin Dominance: Spinners took 7 of 9 wickets
3. Fielding Excellence: Multiple spectacular saves and catches
4. Captaincy: Smart bowling changes and field placements
5. Experience Handling Pressure: Performed better in crunch moments

Sri Lanka’s Areas for Improvement:

1. Middle Order Stability: Collapsed under pressure
2. Death Bowling: Conceded 45 in last 5 overs
3. Partnership Building: Only one substantial partnership
4. Finishing Ability: Failed to accelerate at the end
5. Experience Gap: Youngsters struggled in pressure situations

Series Context and Historical Significance:

India’s Dominance in Bilateral Series:

This 5-0 whitewash continues India’s impressive home record and establishes them as one of the most dominant forces in women’s T20 cricket.

India’s Recent Home T20I Series Results:

Year	Opponent	Result	Margin	Key Performer
2025	Sri Lanka	Won	5-0	Harmanpreet Kaur
2024	South Africa	Won	3-0	Smriti Mandhana
2023	England	Won	3-2	Deepti Sharma
2022	Australia	Lost	1-4	Richa Ghosh
2021	South Africa	Won	2-1	Shafali Verma

Table 9: India’s recent home T20I series performance

Sri Lanka’s Progress Despite Whitewash

Despite the comprehensive loss, Sri Lanka showed significant improvement:

• Emergence of Young Talent: Perera and Dulani’s maiden fifties
• Competitive Spirit: Pushed India in phases
• Fielding Improvement: Better than previous tours
• Experience Gained: Valuable exposure against world champions

Tactical Analysis: What Won India the Match?

1. Smart Team Selection

• Resting key players showed squad depth
• Giving debut to Kamalini invested in future
• Balanced attack with 4 spinners suited to conditions

2. Captaincy Masterclass

• Harmanpreet’s timely bowling changes
• Aggressive field placements during powerplay
• Using spinners in tandem during middle overs

3. Spin Web

• Spinners bowled 16 of 20 overs
• Created constant pressure with dots
• Took 7 wickets between them

4. Experience in Crunch Moments

• Handled pressure better during partnerships
• Accelerated at the death with batting
• Broke partnerships at crucial junctures

Individual Milestones and Records:

Records Set During IND W vs SL W 5th T20I –

Record	Player/Team	Details	Previous Record
Most T20I Wickets	Deepti Sharma	152 wickets	Megan Schutt (151)
Maiden T20I Fifty	Hasini Perera	64 off 47 balls	–
Maiden T20I Fifty	Imesha Dulani	54 off 39 balls	–
Series Whitewash	India Women	5-0 vs Sri Lanka	First 5-0 vs SL
Debut Cap	G Kamalini	Aged 17 years	Youngest in series

Table 10: Records and milestones from the match

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What was the final result of IND W vs SL W 5th T20I?
A: India Women won by 21 runs, defending their total of 175/7 and restricting Sri Lanka Women to 154/9.

Q2: What world record did Deepti Sharma create?
A: Deepti Sharma became the leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20 Internationals with 152 wickets, surpassing Australia’s Megan Schutt.

Q3: Why was Smriti Mandhana not playing in the 5th T20I?
A: Smriti Mandhana was rested as India had already won the series 4-0, giving an opportunity to debutant G Kamalini.

Q4: Who were the standout performers for Sri Lanka?
A: Hasini Perera (64) and Imesha Dulani (54) both scored maiden T20I fifties and showed great promise for the future.

Q5: How significant is this 5-0 whitewash for Indian women’s cricket?
A: This is India’s first 5-0 whitewash against Sri Lanka in women’s T20Is and demonstrates their growing dominance and squad depth.

Q6: What’s next for both teams after this series?
A: Both teams will likely have limited-overs assignments in early 2026, with India possibly touring overseas and Sri Lanka hosting bilateral series.

Q7: How did the pitch behave during the match?
A: The Greenfield International Stadium pitch was good for batting with some assistance for spinners as the match progressed.

Q8: Who was awarded Player of the Series?
A: While not announced in the live coverage, Harmanpreet Kaur (187 runs in series) would be a strong contender for Player of the Series.

Q9: How many debutants played in this series?
A: India gave debuts to two players in the series – Shree Charani in earlier matches and G Kamalini in the 5th T20I.

Q10: What was Sri Lanka’s best partnership in the match?
A: The 74-run partnership between Hasini Perera and Imesha Dulani for the second wicket was Sri Lanka’s best and kept them in the hunt.

Future Prospects and Implications

For India Women:

1. Squad Depth Established: Successful rotation policy
2. Youth Integration: Kamalini’s debut adds to talent pool
3. Captaincy Continuity: Harmanpreet’s leadership validated
4. World Cup Preparation: Strong foundation for upcoming ICC events
5. Spin Dominance: Blueprint for home conditions

For Sri Lanka Women:

1. Talent Identification: Perera and Dulani future mainstays
2. Experience Gained: Valuable lessons against top team
3. Areas to Work: Middle order stability and death bowling
4. Building Blocks: Positive takeaways despite results
5. Future Planning: Need to develop bench strength

Statistical Deep Dive: Match Numbers

Batting Performance Metrics –

Boundary Analysis:

Team	4s	6s	Boundary %	Dot Ball %
India	18	4	48.6%	32.1%
Sri Lanka	16	2	43.2%	34.8%

Partnership Analysis:

Team	Best Partnership	Runs	Wicket	Overs
India	4th wicket	65	Harmanpreet-Ghosh	7.3
Sri Lanka	2nd wicket	74	Perera-Dulani	9.2

Conclusion: A Historic Day for Women’s Cricket

The IND W vs SL W 5th T20I at Thiruvananthapuram will be remembered as more than just a series finale. It was a match that showcased:

• Individual brilliance (Deepti Sharma’s world record)
• Team dominance (India’s comprehensive whitewash)
• Emerging talent (Perera and Dulani’s maiden fifties)
• Strategic depth (India’s rotation policy)

India’s 5-0 victory establishes them as a powerhouse in women’s T20 cricket, with depth in both batting and bowling. The emergence of Deepti Sharma as the all-time leading wicket-taker adds to the growing legacy of Indian women cricketers on the world stage.

For Sri Lanka, despite the whitewash, there were significant positives. The performances of Hasini Perera and Imesha Dulani provide hope for the future, suggesting that with proper development and exposure, they can compete at the highest level.

As both teams move forward, this series will serve as a benchmark for India and a learning experience for Sri Lanka. The match also highlighted the growing popularity and quality of women’s cricket, drawing attention to individual milestones and team achievements that continue to elevate the sport.

The Greenfield International Stadium witnessed history being made, and the IND W vs SL W 5th T20I will be remembered as a landmark occasion in the annals of women’s cricket—a perfect blend of individual achievement, team success, and the promise of an even brighter future for the sport.

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