India Women Triumph in the Opening Match Against Sri Lanka
India return to T20Is after their maiden ODI World Cup title at home. The first T20I against Sri Lanka in Visakhapatnam marks the start of a five-match series that forms nearly half of India’s limited build-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup in England. With just 11 T20Is scheduled before that tournament, India will be eager to build momentum and rhythm.
Since their group-stage exit at the 2024 T20 World Cup, India have been more aggressive; they have the second-highest T20I run rate in this period (among teams with five or more matches). India have five wins from eight T20Is across two series, including a 3-2 victory over England in July. Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh and Shafali Verma have all struck at 140-plus.
Bowling remains a focus. Renuka Singh returns to the pace attack; Radha Yadav, joint-leading wicket-taker for India since the 2024 World Cup, has been left out; and left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma could make her international debut. Form guide: India: LWLWW; Sri Lanka: WLLLL.
Sri Lanka play their first T20I since March, when they drew a three-match series 1-1 in New Zealand. They have tours to West Indies in February and Bangladesh in March-April before the World Cup, so this series is more about assessing new players than chasing immediate results. Shashini Gimhani has taken six wickets in five T20Is at an economy of 5.53 and could be a key pick.
Visakhapatnam notes: India Women last played a T20I here in 2014. Across six women’s T20Is at the venue the average first-innings total is 115, though the ground produced higher scores during the recent ODI World Cup. Dew could be a factor; the forecast is sunny with temperatures around 23°C at the start.
Smriti Mandhana and the Youth Contingent
Stats: Smriti Mandhana has scored 414 runs since last year’s World Cup, averaging 51.75 and striking at 146.80, making her one of the most consistent T20 batters in this period. Mandhana is one of four batters among Full Member nations to have hit a T20I hundred since the last T20 World Cup. Chamari Athapaththu is the only Sri Lanka woman in the touring squad who has previously played a T20I in Visakhapatnam. Harmanpreet Kaur has struck at 106.84 since November 2024.
Harmanpreet Kaur: “The pitch is really good [for batting]. Dew is going to play a huge role in this ground. We played the [ODI] World Cup matches here. We know the kind of pitch here, and how we have to respond.”
Looking Ahead: Building up for the T20 World Cup
This series is a crucial part of India’s cricket calendar as they prepare for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup in England. With only 11 T20Is scheduled before the global event, India aims to use this series to fine-tune their strategies. The focus not only remains on batting firepower but also on exploring combinations in the bowling department.
Renuka Singh’s return strengthens the pace attack, while the likes of Radha Yadav which is notably absent opens opportunities for emerging talents like Vaishnavi Sharma to make their mark. For Sri Lanka, the series is a testing ground for new talents, honing them for future challenges and engagements.
Conditions and Venue Insights
Played at Visakhapatnam, a venue known for moderate scores, the pitch offered assistance to both batters and bowlers. Historically, the average first-innings score at this ground has been around 115 runs, though it transformed to a run-fest during the recent ODI World Cup held at the same location.
The series will continue with these two teams battling it out for supremacy, putting their tactics and performances to the test as they stride towards World Cup preparations.
For detailed stats and player profiles, you can check the match statistics at ESPNcricinfo.
