After three subdued outings, Smriti Mandhana chose the perfect moment to rediscover her touch.
The Indian vice-captain’s sublime 80 off 48 balls in the fourth T20I against Sri Lanka not only silenced questions about her form but also anchored a record-breaking batting display that carried India to a 30-run victory and an unassailable 4–0 lead in the five-match series at Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.
Mandhana’s scores of 25, 14 and 1 in the opening three games had kept her unusually quiet in a series dominated by India. But context mattered. Having spent much of the year playing ODI cricket, the transition back to T20 tempo required a mental reset, something Mandhana acknowledged after the match. “Playing six months of ODI cricket and coming back to T20 was a bit hard mentally,” she admitted, adding that she had worked consciously on adapting her game plans.
From the very first over, the shift was visible. Mandhana began with intent, striking four boundaries in the opening four overs as Sri Lanka’s new-ball bowlers struggled for control. Malsha Shehani and Kawya Kavindi offered width and length, and the left-hander capitalised, piercing the off-side with precision and flicking anything on the pads with ease.
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At the other end, Shafali Verma matched Mandhana stroke for stroke. After a measured start to the series, Verma too found her timing, cutting Kavisha Dilhari for four before taking on Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu with a pull and a lofted slog sweep. The powerplay belonged entirely to India as they raced to 61 without loss, setting the platform for what would become their highest-ever women’s T20I total.
Sri Lanka’s spinners managed to apply some control after the field spread, but Mandhana and Verma adjusted intelligently. Instead of forcing the pace, the pair focused on strike rotation, keeping the scoreboard moving while waiting for the loose deliveries. At the halfway mark, India were 85/0, firmly in control without ever looking hurried.
The partnership gathered momentum again in the 11th over when Verma brought up her third consecutive fifty of the series with a pull off Nimasha Madushani. India crossed 100 in the same over, and with Sri Lanka still searching for a breakthrough, Mandhana shifted gears decisively. In the 12th over, she took medium-pacer Rashmika Sewwandi apart, plundering 20 runs with a mix of calculated aerial strokes and placement. Her half-century came off just 35 balls, a marker of how seamlessly she had blended timing with aggression.
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The 150 arrived in the 15th over, and for a moment, it looked as if both openers would bat through the innings. Madushani eventually broke the stand, dismissing Verma for a brilliant 79, caught and bowled in the 16th over. The partnership of 162 was the highest for any wicket in women’s T20I cricket for India, underlining the scale of the onslaught.
Mandhana fell an over later for 80, but the damage had already been done. Richa Ghosh ensured there was no dip in momentum, smashing an unbeaten 40 off 16 balls to propel India to 221/2, their highest total in the format. Sri Lanka’s chase began with ambition. Hasini Perera and Athapaththu went after the bowling from the outset, Perera taking 17 off Arundhati Reddy in the second over. Athapaththu followed with a six and a four off Deepti Sharma as Sri Lanka brought up a fifty inside four overs. The opening stand of 59 gave the visitors a fighting chance.
However, the scale of the target demanded sustained aggression. Perera’s dismissal for 33, mistiming a lofted shot to mid-off, slowed the momentum. Athapaththu and Imesha Dulani kept Sri Lanka in the hunt till the halfway stage at 95/1, but the required rate continued to climb.
The turning point came in the 13th over when Athapaththu, on 52, was caught by Mandhana at long-off off Vaishnavi Sharma, whose spell proved crucial. With the Sri Lankan captain gone, the chase lost direction. Vaishnavi’s figures of 2/24, including nine dot balls, applied pressure at key moments, while Arundhati Reddy chipped in with timely wickets.
Dulani battled on, but with 83 needed off the final five overs, the task proved too steep. Sri Lanka finished on 191/6, falling short despite flashes of resistance. The result reflected India’s dominance across departments. Mandhana’s return to form, Verma’s consistency, and Vaishnavi’s composure with the ball combined to deliver a comprehensive win.
With the series already secured, the fifth and final T20I on December 30 now offers India an opportunity to complete a clean sweep and for Mandhana, a chance to carry this rediscovered rhythm forward.
