Fresh off their historic ODI World Cup triumph, the Indian Women’s team returns to the shortest format to kick off a five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. The opening clash is set for tomorrow at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. This ground usually offers a true bounce that batters love, but the evening sea breeze might give the new-ball bowlers something to work with under the lights.
With India looking to carry their championship momentum and Sri Lanka eager to build on their recent Asia Cup success, the stakes are high. The visitors have fond memories of Vizag—it’s where they secured one of their rare T20I wins against India back in 2014—but facing a confident Indian side at home will be a massive test for Chamari Athapaththu’s squad.
Team India: Players to Watch
Smriti Mandhana
Mandhana is currently the gold standard for consistency in the women’s game, having recently matched the record for the most international centuries (17). She was the top run-scorer in T20Is in 2024 with a staggering 763 runs, and her 2025 form has been equally lethal. With 3,982 T20I runs and a strike rate of 124, she is the engine room of the Indian top order. If she maintains her habit of scoring half-centuries in consecutive games, the Sri Lankan bowlers are in for a long evening. She enters this series as the World No. 3 ranked T20I batter, and her ability to exploit the powerplay overs will be crucial on a flat Vizag deck. If she survives the first four overs, expect her to anchor the innings and set up a massive total for the hosts.
Deepti Sharma
Deepti remains the “Swiss Army Knife” of this Indian line-up, providing balance that is almost impossible to replace. Often referred to as the team’s “Stokesy” for her all-round impact, Deepti is a tactical nightmare for the opposition. She currently sits as the World No. 2 T20I bowler with 147 career wickets at an incredible average of 18.99. Her value isn’t just in her wickets; she has a knack for keeping her economy rate under 6 when it matters most. With 1,110 T20I runs and recent “Player of the Tournament” honors in the WPL, her ability to finish games with both bat and ball makes her India’s most vital asset.
Harmanpreet Kaur
The Indian captain is the first woman from her country to surpass 3,000 T20I runs, and she enters this series as a World Cup-winning leader. She has a career tally of 3,654 runs in T20Is. Her recent form is intimidating, highlighted by a match-winning 89 in the World Cup semi-final against Australia. Known for her high-pressure “big game” temperament, her strike rate usually spikes in the death overs, making her the ultimate threat in the final five. She also has a tally of 32 wickets to her name with best bowling figures of 4 for 23, and is a vital cog for team India going ahead into the series. Leading a side full of confidence as a world champion, she will want to set the tone personally in this series opener. With 182 T20I appearances, her experience is unparalleled and she will be a key component for India in this series.
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