Sri Lanka Ring in Changes as India Opt to Bowl in Third Women’s T20I

Trailing 2-0 in the five-match series, Sri Lanka rang in three changes to their playing XI as India won the toss and chose to bowl in the third Women’s T20I at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The match marked the venue’s first-ever women’s international fixture.

India, who have dominated the series so far, made two changes of their own. Fast bowler Renuka Singh returned to the side in place of Arundhati Reddy, with captain Harmanpreet Kaur explaining that the team wanted to take an “aggressive option” during the powerplay. Allrounder Deepti Sharma, who missed the second T20I due to a mild illness, also returned to the XI, replacing Sneh Rana.

Sri Lanka, looking to arrest the slide after posting sub-130 totals in both games at Visakhapatnam, handed a T20I debut to 26-year-old left-arm spinner Nimasha Meepage. They also brought in Imesha Dulani and Malsha Snehani, while leaving out seamer Kawya Kavindi, spinner Shashini Gimhani and opener Vishmi Gunaratne.

Former India captain Mithali Raj, speaking during the pitch report, said the surface was unlikely to offer much turn but suggested that dew could play a significant role in the second half of the match.

With India firmly in control of the series and Sri Lanka experimenting with personnel, the third T20I presented the visitors with an opportunity to test new combinations and attempt a turnaround against a confident Indian side.

Teams

India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma, N Shree Charani, Renuka Singh

Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Imesha Dulani, Kaushini Nuthyangana (wk), Malsha Snehani, Inoka Ranaweera, Malki Madara, Nimasha Madushani