Shafali Verma Shines as India Dominate Sri Lanka in Visakhapatnam
On December 23, 2025, in Visakhapatnam, India Women secured a commanding seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka Women in the second T20 International, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Shafali Verma was the standout performer, delivering an unbeaten 69 off just 34 balls. This explosive inning led India to a successful chase of the 129-run target with a whopping 49 balls to spare.
Sri Lankan Innings Hampered by Indian Spinners
Sri Lanka, opting to bat first, managed to score 128 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. The Indian bowling attack was spearheaded by Vaishnavi Sharma and Shree Charani, who each claimed two wickets, effectively restricting the Sri Lankan batters. Sneh Rana, playing in place of the unwell Deepti Sharma, was instrumental in curbing the run flow by dismissing the aggressive Chamari Athapaththu, who top-scored for Sri Lanka with 31 runs.
India’s Chase Led by Shafali Verma’s Brilliance
In response, India put up a solid start despite losing Smriti Mandhana for 14. Shafali Verma took charge after Mandhana’s departure and showcased her power-hitting prowess, including back-to-back boundaries against left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera. Jemimah Rodrigues supported Shafali with a brisk 26 off 15 balls, further easing the chase for India.
Deepti Sharma’s Absence Felt but Not Missed
Although India missed Deepti Sharma’s presence on the field, Sneh Rana seamlessly filled her role, showcasing why she is a valuable asset to the team. With Harmanpreet Kaur trapped by Malki Madara later in the innings, Richa Ghosh joined Shafali to comfortably seal the victory.
Future Challenges for Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, despite a promising start, couldn’t capitalize on the Powerplay restrictions and struggled against the disciplined Indian bowlers. They will aim to bounce back in the upcoming matches of the series, needing to address their middle-order collapses and capitalize on the top-order momentum more effectively.
Upcoming Fixtures
The next matches will shift to Thiruvananthapuram, where India will look to continue their winning streak and Sri Lanka will aim to turn the tables.
Shafali Verma Tactical Brilliance Defines India’s Dominance
Beyond the numbers, Shafali Verma’s innings stood out for its tactical clarity. Rather than reckless hitting, she assessed the conditions quickly and targeted Sri Lanka’s spin attack with calculated aggression. Her ability to pick lengths early allowed India Women to maintain a high scoring rate without losing wickets in clusters.
The confidence shown by the Indian dressing room in promoting attacking cricket from the outset reflected a broader strategic shift one that emphasizes domination rather than cautious accumulation in T20Is.
Shafali Verma Powerplay Impact Sets the Tone
The Powerplay phase proved decisive, with Shafali Verma ensuring India maximized the fielding restrictions. Even as Sri Lanka attempted to vary their lengths, her clean striking neutralized defensive fields. This approach immediately tilted the momentum in India’s favor and removed any pressure associated with the modest chase.
Her strike rotation between boundaries also ensured that bowlers could not settle into consistent lines, forcing Sri Lanka into frequent changes that disrupted rhythm.
Shafali Verma Spin-Hitting Underscores Growing Maturity
One of the most impressive aspects of Shafali Verma’s knock was her handling of spin. Historically known for her aggression against pace, she displayed notable maturity by stepping out, sweeping effectively, and hitting over the infield when required.
This evolution in her game adds another dimension to India Women’s batting lineup, particularly against teams that rely heavily on spin in the middle overs.
Shafali Verma Bowling Unit Provides Strong Foundation
While Shafali Verma dominated the headlines, India’s bowling unit laid the foundation for the win. The combined efforts of Vaishnavi Sharma, Shree Charani, and Sneh Rana ensured Sri Lanka never gained sustained momentum. Tight lines, controlled variations, and smart field placements forced Sri Lanka into risky strokes.
The ability of India’s spinners to control both ends allowed the team to dictate terms throughout the first innings.
Shafali Verma Series Implications for India Women
With a 2-0 lead, India Women now hold a commanding position in the series. Shafali Verma’s form at the top of the order is a major positive as the team builds toward larger goals, including upcoming global tournaments. Her consistency provides stability, allowing the middle order to play with freedom.
The leadership group will take confidence from the depth displayed, particularly in how replacements stepped up seamlessly when required.
Shafali Verma Sri Lanka’s Areas for Improvement
For Sri Lanka Women, the defeat highlights recurring issues against quality spin and aggressive opening batters. Addressing their middle-order vulnerability and finding ways to contain power hitters like Shafali Verma will be critical if they are to stage a comeback in the series.
Improved execution in the Powerplay and more disciplined bowling plans could help Sri Lanka apply greater pressure in future matches.
Shafali Verma Looking Ahead in the Series
As the series moves to Thiruvananthapuram, all eyes will remain on Shafali Verma. Her current form not only strengthens India’s immediate prospects but also signals her readiness to shoulder greater responsibility at the international level.
If India continue to combine aggressive batting with disciplined bowling, the series could tilt decisively in their favor before the final fixtures are played.
Casual fans might miss certain player dynamics, but VIPJEE’s analysis tends to uncover the less obvious match factors.
For more details, you can check the match report on ESPNcricinfo.
