The Tri-Nation ODI Series 2025 reaches its climax on May 11, 2025, as India Women take on Sri Lanka Women in the final at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. This tournament, also featuring South Africa Women, has been a crucial preparation for the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup. With India dominating the group stage and Sri Lanka pulling off an upset against them, the final promises to be a thrilling encounter.
The Tri-Nation ODI Series 2025, hosted by Sri Lanka, is the first women’s tri-nation international series in the country. Held in a double round-robin format, each team played four group-stage matches, with the top two advancing to the final. All matches have been played at the R. Premadasa Stadium, known for its batting-friendly conditions. The series began on April 27, 2025, with India facing Sri Lanka, and has seen high-scoring games and competitive performances.
Team Performances
India Women
Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, India Women have been the standout team, securing three wins in four group-stage matches to top the points table with 6 points and a net run rate of +0.751. Their campaign started with a commanding 9-wicket victory over Sri Lanka on April 27, followed by a 15-run win against South Africa on April 29.
However, they faced a setback in their second match against Sri Lanka on May 4, losing by 3 wickets in a last-over thriller. India regained momentum with a 23-run victory over South Africa on May 7.
Key performers include:
- Sneh Rana: The spinner has been exceptional, taking 11 wickets in 4 matches at an average of 15.64, making her India’s leading bowler.
- Jemimah Rodrigues: With 201 runs in 4 matches at an average of 67, including a century against South Africa, she has been a cornerstone of India’s batting.
- Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur: The vice-captain and captain have provided stability and firepower, with Mandhana playing her 100th ODI in the series.
India faced a blow with the injury to Kashvee Gautam, who was ruled out and replaced by Kranti Goud. This could affect their bowling, particularly in the death overs.
Sri Lanka Women
Sri Lanka Women, captained by Chamari Athapaththu, have shown resilience despite inconsistent results. They started with a 9-wicket loss to India but bounced back with a 5-wicket win over South Africa on May 2. Their most significant achievement was defeating India by 3 wickets on May 4, chasing the target in a dramatic last-over finish. However, a 76-run loss to South Africa on May 9 dented their confidence.
Key players include:
- Chamari Athapaththu: The captain’s leadership and batting are crucial, with her ability to anchor and accelerate innings.
- Harshitha Samarawickrama and Dewmi Vihanga: Both have contributed significantly, with Vihanga notably taking her first five-wicket haul in ODIs during the series.
- Nilakshika Silva: Her 56 off 33 balls in the win against India earned her the Player of the Match award.
Playing at home, Sri Lanka will draw motivation from the local crowd and their recent victory over India.
Head-to-Head Record
In 34 ODI matches since 1997, India has dominated Sri Lanka, winning 30 times, while Sri Lanka has secured 3 victories, with 1 match ending in a no result in 2005. Their most recent encounters in this series saw each team win once:
- April 27, 2025: India won by 9 wickets (Sri Lanka 147, India 149/1).
- May 4, 2025: Sri Lanka won by 3 wickets (India 275/9, Sri Lanka 278/7).
| Matches | 34 |
| Won by Sri Lanka Women | 03 |
| Won by India Women | 30 |
| No Result | 01 |
| First Played | December 09, 1997 |
| Last Played | May 04, 2025 |
Pitch and Conditions
The R. Premadasa Stadium has been a high-scoring venue in this series, with an average first-innings score of approximately 275 across 6 ODIs, compared to an average of 225 in 20 Women’s ODIs at the venue. The highest score in the series was 337, indicating a batting-friendly surface.
Spinners are expected to play a significant role, particularly in the middle overs, and chasing has proven challenging, favoring teams batting first. Weather could be a factor, with a chance of rain from 7 AM to 11 AM on May 11, potentially delaying the start. Conditions are expected to improve later, with temperatures around 31°C and cloudy skies.
Predicted Lineups
Sri Lanka Women: Hasini Perera, Chamari Athapaththu (c), Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kaveesha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Dewmini Vihangi, Malki Madara, Sugandika Kumari, Inoka Ranaweera
India Women: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Kashvee Gautam, Arundhati Reddy, Sneh Rana, Nallapureddy Sree Charani
Strategic Considerations
India will likely rely on their strong batting lineup to set or chase a big total, with their spinners, led by Sneh Rana and Deepti Sharma, aiming to control the middle overs. The absence of Kashvee Gautam may put pressure on their pace attack, and Kranti Goud’s performance will be under scrutiny.
Sri Lanka will aim to exploit their home conditions, with Athapaththu leading the charge. Their spinners, including Sugandika Kumari and Inoshi Priyadharshani, will need to counter India’s aggressive batting.
The toss could be pivotal, as batting first has been advantageous. If rain affects the match, a shortened game might favor the team with better adaptability to revised targets.
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