Star all-rounder set to return as India eye series triumph

India are expecting star all-rounder Deepti Sharma to be available for the third T20I against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram, while key batter Jemimah Rodrigues will be given right up until the toss to prove her fitness.

Deepti missed the second match of the five-game series in Vizag due to a fever as India opened up a 2-0 series advantage, but the newly-crowned No.1 ranked T20I bowler is likely to be fit for the crucial third contest according to Muzumdar.

"Deepti is absolutely fine. She's available and fit," Muzumdar said.

In-form batter Rodrigues missed a training session in the lead-up to the next match of the series, but Muzumdar believes the right-hander will be passed fit too.

"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," Muzumdar added.

Muzumdar confirmed India will continue to rotate their side as they look to find the best balance ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in England and Wales in the middle of next year.

India will be looking for a maiden Women's T20 World Cup crown after they broke their duck with a first ICC Women's Cricket World Cup title earlier this year and Muzumdar said all the team's planning was based around peaking for the 20-over showcase.

“We tried to be as settled as possible during the ODI World Cup as well. Six months down the line there is a T20 World Cup and we are very well aware of certain things, what we need to do and in what direction we want to take this T20 side," Muzumdar said.

“Trying out a lot of stuff, making sure that we are well and truly settled before the (T20) World Cup.

“We consistently talk about improving in all the three facets of the game. In fact, there is a fourth one now, which is fitness. Nothing in particular about one facet of the game.

“We are a progressive side, constantly we are trying to improve day by day."

Series schedule:

First T20I: December 21, Visakhapatnam (India won by eight wickets)
Second T20I: December 23, Visakhapatnam (India won by seven wickets)
Third T20I: December 26, Thiruvananthapuram
Fourth T20I: December 28, Thiruvananthapuram
Fifth T20I: December 30, Thiruvananthapuram