India's head coach Amol Mazumdar confirms Deepti Sharma fit to play third T20I against Sri Lanka

In a significant boost for the Indian women's team, star off-spin all-rounder Deepti Sharma has been declared fully fit and available for the third T20I against Sri Lanka. Head coach Amol Muzumdar confirmed her recovery during a pre-match press conference on Thursday, following her absence from the second match in Visakhapatnam. Deepti had been sidelined by a mild fever, during which time she was under the close supervision of the BCCI medical team, but she has now been cleared to return to action.

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Deepti Sharma to play third T20I against Sri Lanka

While India currently holds a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series, some notable players have yet to take the field. Pacer Renuka Singh Thakur has remained on the bench for the first two fixtures, a decision Muzumdar explained as a tactical move. According to the head coach, the team management is prioritizing experimentation with different bowling combinations and lineups to build depth, rather than a lack of fitness on Renuka's part.

"For Renuka, again, we were looking at a different combination. Also trying out a few things, and she's an integral part of this team, as you've known in the last two years. It's just about trying out a few things within the group," said Muzumdar at the pre-match press conference.

Amol Mazumdar gives health update on Jemimah Rodrigues

Muzumdar provided an update on Jemimah Rodrigues, noting that the star batter missed the practice session ahead of the third T20I as a precautionary measure. Rodrigues has been in excellent form during the series in Visakhapatnam, contributing an unbeaten 69 in the opener followed by a solid 26 in the second outing. Despite her absence from the latest training session, the team management is not overly concerned about her availability.

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The coach clarified that while Jemimah is dealing with a minor physical issue, she is recovering well. He emphasized that the decision to rest her was a standard procedure to ensure she remains fit for upcoming fixtures. Under the close supervision of the team’s doctors and physiotherapists, Muzumdar described the break as a routine and mandatory rest period, expressing full confidence that she will be ready for the next match.

"Jemimah had a little bit of an issue, but I think she's fine. She's just resting today. The doctors and the physios are having a close look at her, monitoring her consistently. She should be fine. It's just a mandatory rest that she wants," he added.