Deepti Sharma has been declared fit and available for selection for the third T20I against Sri Lanka. The announcement was made by India's head coach, Amol Muzumdar, on the eve of the match, which is scheduled to be played on Thursday.
Deepti had missed the second T20I in Visakhapatnam due to a mild fever. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team was closely monitoring her recovery. Muzumdar confirmed in the pre-match press conference that Deepti is "absolutely fine" and ready to play.
India currently leads the five-match T20I series 2-0. They secured a seven-wicket victory in the second T20I, chasing down Sri Lanka's total of 128/9 in just 11.5 overs, with Shafali Verma scoring a blistering 69 off 34 balls. The third T20I will be the first time India will play a women's international game at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Muzumdar stated that the team will take time to assess the conditions at the new venue to formulate their game plan.
Muzumdar also addressed the absence of pacer Renuka Singh Thakur in the series so far, explaining that the team is trying out different combinations. He emphasized that Renuka remains an integral part of the team and that her exclusion is purely tactical.
Regarding Jemimah Rodrigues, who scored 69 not out and 26 in the first two T20Is, Muzumdar revealed that she skipped the practice session as a precautionary measure due to a minor issue. However, he assured that she is fine and is just resting, with the medical team closely monitoring her. A decision on her inclusion in the playing XI will be made on the morning of the game.
Muzumdar has previously spoken highly of Deepti Sharma, even comparing her to Ben Stokes due to her work ethic and intensity. He noted her exceptional preparation and the similarities in their throwing styles. In fact, Muzumdar refers to Deepti as "Stokesy".
With Deepti Sharma's return, India will aim to seal the series against Sri Lanka in the third T20I. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM IST on December 26 at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram.
