The fourth encounter between the India Women and Sri Lanka Women in the 2025/26 T20I series shifts focus from securing the series to tactical depth, following critical pre-match decisions in Thiruvananthapuram.
With the five-match series already secured by the Indian contingent (3-0), the focus of the 4th T20I in Thiruvananthapuram moved squarely from result obligation to tactical experimentation and squad depth. However, the pre-match narrative was dominated by an unforeseen forced change and a crucial strategic toss decision.
Sri Lanka’s Calculated Decision: The Dew Factor
For Sri Lanka, winning the toss presented a late opportunity to assert some control over a dominant Indian side. Captain Chamari Athapaththu, marking her significant 150th T20I appearance, cited the expected presence of dew as the primary driver for her decision to bowl first. This rationale acknowledges the common challenge faced by bowlers in evening matches in coastal India, where chasing teams often gain a significant advantage.
Athapaththu established a pragmatic target for her bowlers, stating that restricting India to approximately **140 runs** would constitute a manageable chase. This figure suggests a calculated assessment of India’s powerful batting lineup, aiming for control rather than an improbable early collapse.
India’s Forced Tactical Permutation
While the Indian team was largely expected to utilize the match for controlled rotation, a mandatory substitution reshaped their middle order. **Jemimah Rodrigues**, a dependable presence at No. 3, was ruled out due to weakness arising from mild fever. Losing a key cog in the machine due to illness, particularly when aiming for a high total, necessitates immediate reassessment.
Stepping into the breach was **Harleen Deol**, marking her return to the playing XI. This change tested the team’s bench strength immediately. Furthermore, the Indian management opted for strategic rotation in the bowling department, resting Kranti Gaud, who featured in the first three games, and welcoming back the experienced **Arundhati Reddy** after she missed the preceding match.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur confirmed that India had also preferred to bat first—a common preference in T20Is to set the pace—but maintained that the team had no specific run-rate or target in mind, instead focusing on “hopefully, setting a good total” under the circumstances.
Sri Lanka’s Search for the Winning Combination
Despite the series being settled, Sri Lanka was not immune to changes, implementing two adjustments in a continued effort to find a combination capable of challenging the dominant hosts. The strategy appeared to prioritize depth and variety in the bowling attack:
- Seamer **Kawya Kavindi** was brought in, likely to add more pace options during the powerplay.
- All-rounder **Rashmika Sewwandi** entered the squad, providing an additional dimension with both bat and ball.
These insertions came at the expense of left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera and seamer Malki Madara. By sacrificing a frontline spinner for depth in pace and all-round ability, Sri Lanka demonstrated a strategic focus on capitalizing on the early conditions and handling the later stages of the Indian innings effectively before the dew set in.
The 4th T20I ultimately became a test of adaptation: India must succeed without a crucial middle-order batter, while Sri Lanka seeks to validate their theory that chasing is simpler in Thiruvananthapuram—a theory they finally have the opportunity to prove.
Final Playing Squads
India Women XI
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 Women XI
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
