Top takeaways from India’s triumph over Sri Lanka in the Tri-Series — key positives that shaped the win.
India are set to host the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, and the home team looks all set, considering their extraordinary show in Sri Lanka. India Women returned home victorious after defeating both Sri Lanka and South Africa in the tri-series conducted between April 27 and May 11 in the island nation.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and the management were delighted, as their side ticked all the possible boxes by displaying an all-round show throughout the series. Some or the other player stepped up with individual brilliance to pull the team out of crisis on numerous occasions. This is a testament to how the team look fully prepared to clinch their maiden title in October 2025.
India’s batting brilliance: Key takeaways from tri-series victory
The opener and vice-captain, Smriti Mandhana, looked in solid touch as she scored 264 runs in 5 matches, with her best performance coming in the final—116 off 101 balls. In fact, she finished as the second-highest run-scorer in the series. She was consistently providing the right starts for the team, which gave a lot of liberty to the players coming down the order.
For the past few years, Mandhana has been an integral part of the team. With her consistent performances and dominating knocks, she has firmly established herself as the key. She has even surpassed Mithali Raj’s record for the most hundreds in ODIs, with her tally now standing at 11.
Another positive from the series was seeing Jemimah Rodrigues back in action. For a long period of time, team India’s middle order relied heavily on Harmanpreet Kaur. Hence, seeing Rodrigues step up is a sign of relief for Indian fans. She was recognised as the Player of the Match in the clash against South Africa after scoring a compact hundred. The top order had collapsed that day, and she delivered just when the team needed it the most.
Apart from these two, it was nice to see contributions every now and then from other players. For instance, Harleen Deol regularly chipped in with forty-odd runs, and Richa Ghosh boosted the strike rate in the death overs. Lastly, it was the skipper Harmanpreet Kaur who took charge whenever the situation demanded. Overall, it was a marvellous show displayed by the Women in Blue.
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Decoding India’s bowling dominance
When the batting department took charge, the bowling unit reaped the benefits, as they had enough leverage to express themselves freely. Sneh Rana, the queen of comebacks, showed why she still deserves a place in the national side. In five matches, she took 15 wickets, with a five-wicket haul in a league game and a four-wicket haul in the final.
Due to injury, the team’s regular off-spinner—Shreyanka Patil—was unavailable, which opened the gates for Rana. With her truckloads of experience, she ensured she left a mark, making the selectors contemplate their decisions. Beyond her terrific stats, what impressed everyone was Rana’s comfort bowling with both the old and new ball. This showcases the versatility she brings to the table.
Apart from Rana, Amanjot Kaur also did a decent job with the ball. The regular pacers—Renuka Singh, Meghna Singh, and Arundhati Reddy—were unavailable. Kashvee Gautam too wasn’t fit to play, and that gave Kaur an opportunity to shine with the new ball. With her performance, she stepped into the role swiftly and confidently.
Lastly, several youngsters got the opportunity to make their debut, including Kranti Goud, Kashvee Gautam, and Suchi Upadhyay. They all had a decent outing, but they need to be more aggressive if they aim to sustain themselves at the international level.
Thus, the victory in Sri Lanka highlights the emergence of young talent and the resurgence of seasoned experience. The series served as a testament to India’s comprehensive strength and their potential for future success.
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