Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 31 (NationPress) India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur commended her teammates for their exceptional effort, urging them to cultivate a winning mentality after the home side achieved a 5-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka, clinching the fifth and final T20I by 15 runs in Thiruvananthapuram.

Kaur, who was awarded Player of the Match for her remarkable score of 68 runs off 43 balls, envisions her squad continuing their victorious streak leading up to the T20 World Cup title. This clean sweep also represents India Women’s third 5–0 triumph in a bilateral T20I series, previously defeating West Indies in 2019 and Bangladesh in 2024.

Earlier in 2024, India celebrated their first ODI World Cup victory, overcoming South Africa in the final.

"2025 has been truly wonderful for us. For all the hard work we've put in, we are now receiving the recognition we deserve. It’s crucial to maintain the successful habits we've developed and continue our winning streak this year," remarked Harmanpreet Kaur.

"A significant factor is that we have played numerous T20 matches together. It was about having faith in our abilities. Everyone remained positive when Sir (Amol Muzumdar) emphasized improving our strike rates and elevating our standards. We are eager to uphold these standards and look ahead to what we can achieve in the future," she added.

Despite the absence of key players like Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues, Kaur delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 68 runs when the team was struggling at 77 for 5, forming a crucial 61-run partnership with Amanjot Kaur to stabilize the innings. Her innings included nine boundaries and a six.

"As a batter, it’s my duty to bolster the batting order and contribute effectively. Transitioning from ODIs to T20s posed challenges, but everyone was enthusiastic about playing. We fought hard for this victory, and we are thrilled with how everything fell into place. Our goal was to have all players available for this series," Kaur stated.

With the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 commencing on January 9, Kaur is now focused on the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup, aspiring to replicate the success of the ODI World Cup.

"The upcoming WPL is vital for all of us. We aim to play our best cricket and enjoy the experience. The next six months are critical, and we plan to continue working hard and raising our standards. We wish to replicate our ODI success in the T20 format as well," she concluded.