A blistering Sunday afternoon at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium laid the backdrop for a battle that would find a place in the history books of Indian women’s cricket. 11 May, 2025 is the day when the Indian women’s team provided a strong statement of purpose, dominating Sri Lanka by 97 runs in the tri-series final-a win that was not only defined by figures, but by passion, grit, and a shared desire for victory.
Smriti Mandhana’s Masterclass: The Calm Before the Storm
From the opening ball itself, there was a sense of determination in the Indian camp. Smriti Mandhana, as ever, her trademark calm, held the innings together with a sublime 116 off 101 balls, her 11th ODI hundred and first against Sri Lanka. She was a vision of poise and aggression, her drives thudding through the covers, her sweeps sending the spinners packing, and her temperament calming the ship.
Mandhana’s associations-70-run opening stand with Pratika Rawal (who scored 30) and a 120-run partnership with Harleen Deol-are the indicators, both runs a reflection of her skill to construct and push an innings.
The middle order, spearheaded by Harleen Deol (47), Jemimah Rodrigues (44), and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (41), maintained the momentum, never giving the Sri Lankan bowlers any respite. The finishing touches were provided by Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma, who sent a flurry of boundaries in the death overs, taking India to a record 342/7, the highest women’s ODI score ever achieved in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s Uphill Battle
Pursuing 343 in a high-pressure final is a tall order, and Sri Lanka’s nerves were evident early as they lost a wicket in the first over. But their skipper Chamari Athapaththu (51) and Nilakshi de Silva (48) battled hard, patching together partnerships that threatened to upset the balance at one stage. But the pressure of the chase-and the relentless Indian bowling-proved too intense. As the run rate required kept mounting, so did the risks, and wickets started falling.
Sneh Rana and Amanjot Kaur: The Game Changers
Sneh Rana, Player of the Series for her 15 wickets, was a revelation. Her final spell (4/38) shattered the backbone of the Sri Lankan middle order, combining flight and guile to cause errors and trigger a collapse from 173/3 to 192/7. Amanjot Kaur’s initial breakthroughs and key strikes in her second spell (3/54) made sure Sri Lanka never recovered from their slips.
India’s fielding was crisp, their intensity unrelenting-run-outs and diving catches peppered the innings, every instance a testament to how much work this side has put in towards reaching perfection.
For India, this triumph was not merely a trophy. It was redemption after having lost in the group stage to Sri Lanka, vindication of their World Cup contender credentials, and a complete endorsement of collaboration and faith. As Harmanpreet Kaur raised the trophy up to the crowd with her game-day inspired teammates surrounding her, there was definitive unity-a team who learned from their failures, stood for each other, and delivered when it needed to happen.
For Sri Lanka, the loss was a bitter lesson but also a call to action. Their captain accepted the areas-there were fielding lapses, not enough power hitters, and room for improvement-but also complimented the heart her team played with against an international-quality side.
The Road Ahead
This victory is a landmark in the history of Indian women’s cricket. It demonstrates the depth of the team, their capacity to excel in every department, and their preparedness to face the challenges of the forthcoming World Cup. For the fans, it was a day of pride; for the players, a memory to be treasured-and a platform to achieve even greater success.
As the sun went down over Colombo, the Women in Blue stood tall-champions not only of a series, but of a spirit that will not accept anything less than the very best.
Written By Smita Singh
