India have opted to keep Smriti Mandhan in the T20I final against Sri Lanka as G Kamalini makes her debut for the national side. Mandhana was the man of the match in the fourth T20I as she returned to form and scored 80 runs. In the closing moments of the game, the Indian opener did nudge a little and it seems that the team management did not want to take any chances with her with the series already closed.
The 17-year-old Kamalini emerged as one of the standout batsmen at the Under-19 World Cup earlier in the year, finishing the tournament as the third-highest run-scorer with 143 runs from seven innings. She averaged 35.75, highlighted by a composed 56 not out.
IND vs SL Update 5. WT20I
Kamalini first attracted widespread attention last season when Mumbai Indians secured her services for Rs 1.60 crore in the Women’s Premier League auction. Earlier on February 18, she made history by becoming the youngest player in the WPL. At just 16 years and 213 days, the left-handed batsman made her MI Championship 2023 debut against Gujarat Giants at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara.
Impressed by her rapid rise, Mumbai Indians retained Kamalini ahead of the WPL 2026 auction, keeping her alongside senior stars Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews and Amanjot Kaur.
Renuka Thakur was also resting along with Mandhana when Sneh Rana entered. Jemimah Rodrigues, who missed the fourth match due to fever. he is still rested for the game along with frontline pacer Kranti Goud.
Sri Lanka got Inok Ranaweera back into the side and Malki Madara back into the side for Malsha Shehani and Kawya Kavindi.
IND vs SL 5th WT20I: Playing XI
Sri Lanka Women’s Playing XI: Hasini Perera, Chamari Athapaththu (c), Imesha Dulani, Harshitha Madavi Samarawickrama (vc), Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Rashmika Sewwandi, Kaushani Nuthyangana (wk), Nimasha Madushani, Inoka Ranawe
India Women Playing XI: Shafali Verma, G Kamalini, Richa Ghosh (wk), Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Vaishnavi Sharma, Shree Charani, Arundhati Reddy
– The end
Published on:
December 30, 2025
