After basking in the glory of their historic 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup triumph, the Indian women’s cricket team is back on the pitch, wasting no time as they kick off a five-match T20 International series against Sri Lanka in Visakhapatnam. The series, which began on December 21, 2025, marks the first outing for Harmanpreet Kaur’s squad since their unforgettable World Cup victory over Australia. With the ICC 2026 T20 World Cup looming just six months away in England and Wales, every ball bowled and every run scored in this series carries significant weight for both teams’ preparations.
It’s not just another bilateral series—there’s a palpable sense of anticipation in the air. Indian fans, still riding high from the Women in Blue’s maiden ICC title, are eager to see if their heroes can sustain that momentum in the shortest format. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, arrives determined to spoil the party and script their own story of resurgence. The stakes? Bragging rights, confidence, and crucial answers ahead of a world event.
Let’s set the stage by looking at the head-to-head numbers that define this rivalry. In T20 Internationals, Chamari Athapaththu, Sri Lanka’s inspirational captain, leads all scorers in this fixture with 574 runs from 25 innings at an average of 23.91 and a strike rate just over 100. She’s been the backbone of her side for years, and her presence at the top of the order is always a threat. Not far behind, Jemimah Rodrigues has been a revelation for India, amassing 443 runs in just 13 innings at a staggering average of 44.30 and a strike rate of 136.72. Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain and talisman, boasts 434 runs in 19 innings, consistently anchoring India’s middle order.
Bowling-wise, India’s Ekta Bisht stands tall with 19 wickets from just 8 innings at a miserly economy of 5.09. She’s a proven match-winner, though not currently in this T20I squad. Sri Lanka’s Udeshika Prabodhani has 18 wickets in 20 innings, while India’s Poonam Yadav has snared 17 in 12 outings. These numbers speak volumes about the competitive edge both teams bring to the table.
Fast-forward to the opening match in Visakhapatnam: India won the toss and, with a touch of tactical aggression, opted to bowl first. Harmanpreet Kaur, ever the strategist, explained her decision at the toss: "We wanted to bowl." The pitch, known for offering early assistance to seamers, seemed to justify the call.
Sri Lanka’s innings was a tale of discipline from the Indian bowlers and a few flashes of resistance from the visitors. Opener Vishmi Gunaratne dug in, but the Indian attack, led by Deepti Sharma and the young Shree Charani, kept things tight. Deepti Sharma, in particular, was clinical, returning figures of 4 overs, 20 runs, and 1 wicket—her control in the middle overs stifled Sri Lanka’s momentum. Shree Charani chipped in with a wicket as well, showing poise beyond her years.
Harshitha Samarawickrama was the standout with the bat for Sri Lanka, compiling a patient 21 off 23 balls. Despite her efforts, wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals. At one point, Sri Lanka found themselves at 87/3, with the Indian bowlers refusing to let up. The Sri Lankan side eventually managed to post 121/6 in their 20 overs, a total that looked competitive but not commanding.
India’s reply started with the familiar duo of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma at the top. Mandhana, always elegant and composed, looked in fine touch, racing to 25 runs off as many balls before falling to a sharp piece of fielding. Her innings included a couple of trademark drives that had the crowd on its feet. Shafali Verma, the star of India’s World Cup final, began briskly with 9 off 5 balls, reminding everyone of her explosive potential.
Jemimah Rodrigues, slotting in at number three, was unbeaten on 11 from 10 balls as India reached 67 for 2 wickets at one stage. The scoreboard ticked over steadily, with India keeping ahead of the required rate. The batting order, featuring the likes of Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh, and Deepti Sharma, meant the hosts had plenty of firepower in reserve.
The live score updates kept fans glued to their screens—India 12/0 after two overs, then 35/1, and soon 67/2. Every run was cheered, every wicket met with a collective gasp. The match, still in progress at the time of reporting, promised plenty of drama as the chase unfolded under the Visakhapatnam lights.
The squads for this opening encounter reflected the continuity and depth of both teams. India’s lineup, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, included Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Sneh Rana, Amanjot Kaur, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Shree Charani, Arundhati Reddy, Vaishnavi Sharma, and G Kamalini. On the Sri Lankan side, Chamari Athapaththu led a group featuring Vishmi Gunaratne, Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Kaushani Nuthyangana, Rashmika Sewwandi, Imesha Dulani, Kawya Kavindi, Nimesha Madushani, Malki Madara, Inoka Ranaweera, Malsha Shehani, and Shashini Gimhani.
This series is more than just a warm-up for the World Cup—it’s a chance for players to cement their spots, fine-tune strategies, and build momentum. For India, the focus is squarely on maintaining the high standards set during their ODI World Cup run. For Sri Lanka, it’s about finding the right combinations and perhaps springing a surprise or two.
The opening match also highlighted the importance of experience and youth blending together. While established stars like Mandhana and Harmanpreet provide stability, emerging talents such as Shafali Verma and Shree Charani offer that spark of unpredictability. For Sri Lanka, Athapaththu’s leadership and Samarawickrama’s composure will be pivotal as the series progresses.
With the action ongoing and both teams still jostling for early dominance in the series, fans can expect more fireworks as the matches roll on. The Women in Blue are hungry for more silverware, and Sri Lanka is eager to make their mark. One thing’s for sure: the road to the 2026 T20 World Cup is officially underway, and every moment counts.
