Harmanpreet leads the way as India complete 5-0 sweep over SL
India were struggling at 77 for 5 before Harmanpreet's 43-ball 68 took India to a match-winning 175
India were struggling at 77 for 5 before Harmanpreet's 43-ball 68 took India to a match-winning 175
Scorer: Thilak Ram | Commentator: S Sudarshanan
10:49pm Harmanpreet collects the winners' trophy and walks towards her team-mates, whop are ready behind the board that says WINNERS. Harmanpreet now hands over the trophy with two of the youngest members of the Indian team - Vaishnavi and Kamalini. A thorougly dominant show from India this, even if they were challenged multiple times. That they have turned up well and registered a clean sweep will hold them in good stead heading into a T20 World Cup year.
Right then. That is all we have for you from this Sri Lanka tour of India. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. In this website, though, cricket never stops. So do hop over to other live matches and keep joining us with your quips and comments. Wish you all a very happy, prosperous and healthy 2026. On behalf of Thilak and Ranjith, I, Sudarshanan, sign-off one last time in 2025. See you on the other side, folks!
10:39pm: Time for the presentation.
Chamari Athapaththu, Sri Lanka captain: "We are not playing our best cricket. We have to improve our power-hitting and batting. Some youngsters played well in the middle. Looking forward to playing our best cricket in the next few months. A few seniors are here with me, they are playing well but we aren't playing our best cricket as seniors. Some youngsters have taken their opportunities. We have to think a lot before the T20 World Cup. We talk about positives. We played good cricket 6-7 months ago. Our coach asked us to play freely. Some of the batters executed the right plans in the middle. We gave India a fight but unfortunately we lost."
Shafali Verma, Player of the Series: "My work throughout the year has paid off. I will ensure that I don't make the mistake I did today and get out early. Sometimes everything you work on comes off, sometimes 5 of the ten things you worked on pays off. I will work harder and come back the next time. [Mindset from ODI to T20] Both are different games. In ODI you have to play along the ground. T20 is my favourite, day by day I am improving and I will become a better player for the team."
Harmanpreet Kaur, India captain and Player of the Match: "2025 has been great for us. All the hard work we have done, this year we have got the credit. It's about repeating these habits. All of us have played a lot of T20 cricket together. It was about believing we can do that. Sir spoke about strike rates and lifting the standards. Everyone was happy and we wanted to set that standards. Going forward, we want to look at this series and think of what we can do ahead. As a batter, it's my responsibility to give strength to that order and contribute. Shifting to T20 from ODI wasn't easy but everyone was excited to play. We fought for this and happy how all things came together. Next is WPL which is important for all of us. Hopefully we play our best cricket and enjoy ourselves. Next six months are important, we want to keep working hard and raising the bar."
10:21pm A third 5-0 win for India in bilateral T20Is, the first time at home, and a first such series defeat for Sri Lanka. Smiles, handshakes and hugs in the INdian camp. Harmanpreet looks very pleased. Today they were really tested. With bat. On the field, thanks to the dew. And then with the ball. But India found ways to turn up - Harmanpreet herself leading the way with the bat - and finish the series unbeaten. This is an icing on the cake for India, who end a memorable 2025, the ODI World Cup win being the jewel in the crown.
Looking back at the game, how crucial that 20-run final over in India's batting innings proved to be. Reddy put in her batting abilities in full display and India's win margin is only 15. She also set the tone with the ball with Athapaththu's wicket before the spinners dragged India back despite the dew. They triggered a Sri Lankan collapse of 7 for 60 after the tourists were in a pretty comfortable position, thanks to maiden fifties from Perera and Dulani. But their wait for a win now goes into 2026.
Nik: "Arundhati Reddy made the difference today, clear MVP. With bat and ball!!"
Sandy: ""Great end for IND-W in 2025. Hope to see more and more victories moving into the 2026. Also, wishing everyone a very Happy New Year.""
Vivek Venkatesh: "@Raji - Along with their fielding, India needs to build on their middle order too. Apart from Smriti, Shafali and Harman, others havent fired much." Rodrigues is a certainty and she has done really well at No. 3. Ghosh also showed what she can do the other day
Raji: "Even if India win this series 5-0, they can't forget how bad the fielding was. Hope they work on it before the WC. They can't afford this against SA, England, or Australia."
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India were struggling at 77 for 5 before Harmanpreet's 43-ball 68 took India to a match-winning 175
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, would look to make India pay for their sloppy fielding before they sign off from the tour