Bowl first? Get them for 120. Bat first? Get 220.

The team meetings may have perhaps gone somewhat along those lines for the Women in Blue in the five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka.

Fresh from their triumph at home in the ODI World Cup, they are playing like a champion side that is bristling with confidence.

Sri Lanka did come up with a vastly improved batting display in the fourth T20I at the Greenfield Stadium on Sunday (December 28, 2025), but the bowlers had conceded far too many runs. The host thus won the match by 30 runs, after posting its biggest-ever T20I total (221 for two).

It was the first time India was batting first in the series. It was for the first time that Chamari Athapaththu was winning the toss.

After the way her batters, herself included, struggled against a balanced Indian attack and failed to set a decent target, it was hardly a surprise to see her choose fielding.

It was hardly surprising to see Shafali Verma go after the Lankan bowlers, either, after hitting back-to-back fifties. What was a bit surprising was the way she controlled her aggression. Adding a little bit of caution to the fearlessness of her batting could do no harm.

Prolific pair

Her opening stand of 162 with Smriti Mandhana — India’s highest for any wicket — effectively ensured a 4-0 lead for her team. Remarkably, India’s all three highest partnerships in the format belong to this pair.

Smriti, who hadn’t got going in the series till then, must be pleased with her 80. Her smile and her drives were back at their brightest.

Richa Ghosh also lit up the stadium with her own scintillating strokeplay, as she clobbered a 16-ball 40 not out, after being promoted to No. 3.

The team management must be pleased with the way she responded to the challenge, with the T20 World Cup not that far away.

A 5-0 victory would be an ideal way to start the preparation for that big event.

Make no mistake, this Indian side will not be happy with anything less in a series it has batted and bowled with such dominance. Yes, the fielding hasn’t been as good, and there is certainly room for improvement.

As for the Lankans, they must be hoping to build on the overall improvement they showed in the last game and to avoid their worst T20I series defeat in history.

Teams

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (Capt.), Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Sneh Rana, Richa Ghosh, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh, G. Kamalini, Shree Charani and Vaishnavi Sharma.

Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (Capt.), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunaratne, Nilakshika Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Imesha Dulani, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Malsha Shehani, Inoka Ranaweera, Shashini Gimhani, Nimasha Meepage, Kawya Kavindi, Rashmika Sewwandi and Malki Madara.

Match starts at 7 p.m.