India Women’s pace spearhead Renuka Singh Thakur made a sensational return to the T20I arena on Friday, December 26, 2025. Playing her first T20 International in over a year, Renuka’s devastating opening spell laid the foundation for India’s eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, securing an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
The match, held at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, saw Renuka dismantle the Sri Lankan top order and earn the Player of the Match award.
1. The “Lucky Ground” Connection
Following her match-winning performance, Renuka revealed that Thiruvananthapuram holds a special place in her career.
- Statistical Dominance: Renuka finished with outstanding figures of 4/21 in her four overs.
- The “Four-Wicket” Tradition: In the post-match press conference, she noted, “Kerala is my lucky place. I have played Under-19 cricket here, and whenever I have played at this ground, I have taken four wickets. I was very excited to come back here.”
- Mental Edge: She credited the positive energy of the venue for giving her the confidence to execute her plans perfectly after her 12-month hiatus from the shortest format.
2. Match Breakdown: The Renuka-Deepti Show
After Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and chose to field, the bowlers justified the decision almost immediately.
- Early Breakthroughs: After Deepti Sharma removed the dangerous Chamari Athapaththu, Renuka took over. She struck twice in the sixth over, dismissing Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama within three balls, leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 32/3.
- The Squeeze: Renuka later returned to remove Nilakshika Silva and Imesha Dulani, preventing any late-innings recovery.
- Support from Deepti: Deepti Sharma provided the perfect foil, taking 3/18 and becoming the joint-highest wicket-taker in women’s T20I history (151 wickets) alongside Australia’s Megan Schutt.
3. Shafali Verma’s Clinical Finish
While the bowlers set the stage, Shafali Verma ensured the chase was a mere formality.
- The Assault: Shafali smashed a blistering 79 off 42 balls*, reaching her half-century in just 24 deliveries.
- Result: India reached the target of 113 in just 13.2 overs, winning with 40 balls to spare.
Series Status: India Leads 3-0
| Match | Result | Top Performer |
| 1st T20I | India won by 8 wickets | Jemimah Rodrigues (69*) |
| 2nd T20I | India won by 7 wickets | Shafali Verma (69*) |
| 3rd T20I | India won by 8 wickets | Renuka Singh (4/21) |
Looking Ahead to the T20 World Cup
With the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 less than six months away, Renuka’s return to form is a major boost for India. The pacer mentioned that she has been working extensively at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to develop new variations and improve her fitness to ensure she remains a “wicket-taking threat” throughout the global tournament.
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