Cricket
Harmanpreet Leads from the Front as India Women Seal 5–0 Clean Sweep Over Sri Lanka
India Women capped off a dominant tour with another composed performance, defeating Sri Lanka Women by 15 runs in the fifth and final T20I to complete a 5–0 clean sweep of the series. The result underlined India’s superiority throughout the tour, as they consistently controlled key phases of play and delivered under pressure.
Batting first, India Women posted an imposing 175 for 7 from their 20 overs. The innings was anchored by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who led from the front with a commanding 68 off 43 balls. After early setbacks that saw Shafali Verma, Gunalan Kamalini and Harleen Deol depart inside the powerplay, India required stability — and Harmanpreet provided exactly that.
The skipper rotated the strike efficiently before accelerating with authority, striking nine boundaries and a six to maintain momentum. Support came in patches, with Amanjot Kaur contributing a useful 21, but it was the late surge that lifted India to a formidable total. Arundhati Reddy produced a stunning cameo, remaining unbeaten on 27 from just 11 deliveries, her clean striking in the death overs decisively shifting momentum in India’s favour.
Among the Sri Lankan bowlers, Kavisha Dilhari and Chamari Athapaththu were the standouts, claiming two wickets apiece, but the attack struggled to contain India in the closing stages.
Chasing 176, Sri Lanka Women responded with intent and determination. Hasini Perera starred at the top of the order with a fluent 65 off 42 balls, while Imesha Dulani compiled a composed 50, keeping the chase alive with a crucial partnership that threatened to tilt the contest.
India, however, showcased their experience and composure. Timely breakthroughs in the middle overs stalled Sri Lanka’s momentum, with Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Vaishnavi Sharma and Shree Charani all making important contributions with the ball. Sharp fielding — highlighted by a crucial run-out — further tightened India’s grip on the match.
Despite a late push from Rashmika Sewwandi, Sri Lanka finished on 160 for 7, falling 15 runs short of the target.
The victory sealed a comprehensive 5–0 series whitewash for India Women, reflecting their consistency, squad depth, and tactical clarity throughout the series. Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership and match-winning performance in the final game perfectly encapsulated India’s dominance as they closed the tour on a resounding high.
Brief Scores
India Women 175/7 in 20 overs
Harmanpreet Kaur 68 (43), Arundhati Reddy 27* (11)
Kavisha Dilhari 2/11, Chamari Athapaththu 2/21
Sri Lanka Women 160/7 in 20 overs
Hasini Perera 65 (42), Imesha Dulani 50 (39)
Deepti Sharma 1/28, Sneh Rana 1/3
The Sri Lanka Under-19 Women’s Cricket Team is set to tour Australia in April 2026 for an exciting tri-nation series that will also feature England. This tour represents an important opportunity for the young Sri Lankan players to gain international exposure and compete against strong opposition in both limited-overs formats. The team is scheduled to depart on 3rd April 2026 and will play a total of six matches during the tour, including two 50-over games and four T20 matches.
The series will begin on 7th April 2026 with a 50-over match against England at Ian Healy Oval in Brisbane, starting at 9:30 AM. Sri Lanka will then face Australia in another 50-over encounter on 8th April 2026 at the same venue and time. The action will shift to the Gold Coast for the T20 leg of the tour, where Sri Lanka will meet England on 12th April 2026 at Bill Pippen Oval at 9:00 AM, followed by a match against Australia on 13th April 2026 at the same ground and time. The final phase of the tour returns to Brisbane, with Sri Lanka playing England on 17th April 2026 and Australia on 18th April 2026 in two early morning T20 matches at Ian Healy Oval, both starting at 5:30 AM.
Match Schedule
• 7th April 2026 – Sri Lanka vs England (50-over)
Ian Healy Oval, Brisbane – 09:30 AM
• 8th April 2026 – Sri Lanka vs Australia (50-over)
Ian Healy Oval, Brisbane – 09:30 AM
• 12th April 2026 – Sri Lanka vs England (T20)
Bill Pippen Oval, Gold Coast – 09:00 AM
• 13th April 2026 – Sri Lanka vs Australia (T20)
Bill Pippen Oval, Gold Coast – 09:00 AM
• 17th April 2026 – Sri Lanka vs England (T20)
Ian Healy Oval, Brisbane – 05:30 AM
• 18th April 2026 – Sri Lanka vs Australia (T20)
Ian Healy Oval, Brisbane – 05:30 AM
Nuwan Thushara is set to miss the upcoming IPL 2026 season in a significant setback for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) declined to issue him a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
The decision comes following SLC’s latest policy requiring all centrally contracted players to meet strict fitness standards before being cleared for overseas franchise leagues. Thushara reportedly failed to reach the required fitness benchmarks, leading to uncertainty over his participation and eventual exclusion.
RCB had secured the services of the Sri Lankan pacer for approximately INR 1.6 crore, viewing him as a valuable addition to their pace attack. However, his absence could now force the franchise to rethink their squad composition ahead of the tournament.
Interestingly, reports indicate that Thushara is not carrying any injury and remains available to bowl. Despite this, concerns over his overall fitness levels falling short of SLC’s criteria have ultimately ruled him out of the competition.
During his stint with RCB, Thushara featured in just one match, largely serving as a backup option. He made a notable impact in that appearance, returning figures of 1 for 26 with an impressive economy rate of 6.50, showcasing his potential when called upon.
Sri Lanka will tour India in December 2026 for an exciting white-ball series featuring three ODIs and three T20Is. The tour promises competitive cricket action across multiple iconic venues, giving fans across the country a chance to witness the matches live.
The ODI series will begin on December 13 in Delhi, followed by the second match in Bengaluru on December 16. The third and final ODI will be played in Ahmedabad on December 19.
The T20I series will kick off on December 22 in Rajkot. The action will then move to Cuttack for the second T20I on December 24, before concluding in Pune on December 27.
ODI Series
• 13 Dec – 1st ODI – Delhi
• 16 Dec – 2nd ODI – Bengaluru
• 19 Dec – 3rd ODI – Ahmedabad
T20I Series
• 22 Dec – 1st T20I – Rajkot
• 24 Dec – 2nd T20I – Cuttack
• 27 Dec – 3rd T20I – Pune
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