IND W vs SL W | India Player Ratings - Spinners to the fore once again as India finish as table-toppers

Shafali Verma (9/10): How??? Tell me How.. How could a 16-year-old hit those shots with effortless ease? If there has been a real child prodigy, this is it, India. Shafali Verma, once again, took the stage to showcase her amazing ability, smashing all the Lankan bowlers to smithereens. The ferocity with which she played those shots on the on-side, by making room for herself and then moving to the sixth stump, was sheer quality on display. Not for nothing is she being labelled a Virender Sehwag prototype - it was re-established once again.

Jemimah Rodrigues (7.5/10): Dropping down to No.4, Rodrigues ensured there would be no further casualty for the Indian team to finish the group-stage unbeaten. It is an interesting facet of her batting that she, somehow, learnt the trade of batting in different gears, especially with Harmanpreet Kaur struggling for form. Rodrigues performed her job well and good.

Taniya Bhatia  (7.5/10): The wicket-keeper didn’t get the opportunity to showcase her batting display but it was some keeping in Melbourne. She was quick-footed, equally effective against left-arm spinners and leg-spinner, ensuring the Lankan team had no option than leaving the balls. India should be mighty proud of having a keeper of Bhatia’s ability.

Veda Krishnamurthy (6/10): While her turn to bat didn’t arrive, she was indeed impressive on the field, with the catch that got the better of Siriwardene. It could probably be considered as one of the finest, if not the finest, in this year’s competition. Krishnamurthy was also a livewire on the field, diving around to stop many of Athapaththu’s gorgeous cover drives from reaching the boundary. 

Radha Yadav (9.5/10): Radha Yadav personifies consistency for me. She has taken at least one wicket in her last 23 matches, equalling the world record by Australia’s Megan Schutt. Today, right from the outset, Yadav focused on landing the ball close to the body, forcing the Sri Lankan batsmen to choose extravagant strokes to flatter lines. Of course, she was helped by the pitch, which was turning enough from the side she was bowling, but exploiting the surface is not everyone’s cup of tea. Her four wickets were the product of keeping at it and doing the same thing that reaped dividends for you in the past - believe me, this “simple thing” is one of the toughest things to execute.

Poonam Yadav (6.5/10): Everyday is not Sunday and surely, everyday is not Poonam Yadav’s day. After putting Australia and Bangladesh under all sorts of pressure in the first two games, she took a step back today to see her younger colleagues stamping their authority. That she conceded only 20 runs in four overs despite operating mostly in the death overs talks up her quality and something India will love to see more often as they prepare for the semi-final.