Fri Dec 26 14:30:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article:

Summary:

Sri Lankan Women’s Cricket Captain Chamari Athapaththu remains optimistic despite consecutive T20I losses to India. She identifies the need for batting improvement, particularly in the middle order and power-hitting. Athapaththu praises Indian Captain Harmanpreet Kaur as a strong leader who has transformed Indian cricket and recalls playing with her in the Women’s T20 Challenge, where she observed Kaur’s leadership skills.

News Article:

Sri Lanka Captain Athapaththu Remains Upbeat Despite T20I Series Deficit

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, INDIA – December 25, 2025 – Despite facing back-to-back defeats in the ongoing T20I series against India, Sri Lankan Women’s Cricket Captain Chamari Athapaththu maintains a positive outlook. Speaking ahead of the third T20I in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, Athapaththu acknowledged her team’s shortcomings, particularly in their batting performance.

“I feel we need to improve our batting a little bit, especially in our middle order and how we finish the game as a batting unit,” Athapaththu stated. “Our power game is not good enough for this format.”

However, Athapaththu expressed admiration for Indian counterpart Harmanpreet Kaur, highlighting her significant impact on Indian cricket. “As a cricketer I know she is one of the best leaders because she is the girl who changed Indian cricket. As an Asian, I am really proud of her.”

Athapaththu also shared fond memories of playing alongside Kaur in the Women’s T20 Challenge, where she gained insight into Kaur’s leadership style. “We shared the same dressing room when we played for Supernovas. So, I know how she handled situations and how she managed people in the dressing room.”

Sri Lanka will need to address their batting concerns quickly if they hope to salvage the series against a dominant Indian side.

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