As Sri Lanka return to the field for the second Women’s T20I against India, the challenge ahead is as much mental as it is tactical. The first game slipped away quickly, but within that loss were moments of resistance, courage and quiet leadership. T20 cricket has a way of compressing stories into brief windows, and for Sri Lanka, three players stand at the heart of those stories, Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu and Inoka Ranaweera. Each represents a different phase of the team’s journey, bound together by resilience.
Vishmi Gunaratne
In a line-up under pressure, it was Vishmi Gunaratne who offered Sri Lanka a sense of stability in the first T20I. Walking in early, with wickets falling around her, the young opener showed maturity beyond her years. Her 39 off 43 balls may not have been flamboyant, but it was composed, thoughtful and deeply responsible, the kind of innings that keeps a team afloat when momentum threatens to drift away.
Gunaratne’s strength lies not just in her shot-making, but in her temperament. At just 20, she already understands the value of time at the crease, of absorbing pressure before releasing it. Her T20I career so far has been a learning curve, modest averages, flashes of promise, but performances like the one in the opener show why Sri Lanka sees her as a long-term pillar. In 50 T20Is, she has accumulated 794 runs, at a strike rate of 88.51, and registered the highest of 73*.
Chamari Athapaththu
For over a decade, Chamari Athapaththu has been Sri Lanka’s heartbeat. Captain, run-getter, aggressor, she has played every role demanded of her, often simultaneously. In the first T20I, her 15 off 12 balls didn’t reflect her true impact, but numbers rarely capture what she brings to the field. Her presence alone carries reassurance for younger players and a reminder to opponents that Sri Lanka are never out of the fight.
Athapaththu’s T20I record is built on courage, thousands of runs earned against stronger teams, often with little margin for error. In 147 T20Is, she has racked up 3473 runs, at a strike rate of 110.14, and from 89 bowling innings has scalped 63 wickets. She has learned to attack when needed and rebuild when required, adapting her game as the format evolved. A positive start from Athapaththu can lift the entire dressing room, and if she finds her rhythm early, the contest could shift far quicker than expected.
Inoka Ranaweera
While youth and aggression shape much of T20 cricket, experience still finds a way to matter, and Inoka Ranaweera is proof of that. The veteran left-arm spinner was one of Sri Lanka’s most economical bowlers in the opener, finishing with 1 for 17, quietly keeping India’s batters in check even as the game moved away.
Ranaweera has never been about theatrics. Her value lies in control, subtle changes of pace, and an understanding of batters’ intentions. Over a long T20I career, she has built a reputation as a bowler who thrives in the middle overs, when the game often tilts. Inoka has picked up 93 wickets, including the best of 4/7, from 85 T20Is. Against India’s deep batting line-up, her role in the second match becomes even more significant, to slow the game, to force mistakes, and to bring experience into moments that demand composure.
For Sri Lanka, the second WT20I is more than a chance to level the series, it is an opportunity to reaffirm belief. With Gunaratne’s quiet resolve, Athapaththu’s enduring leadership, and Ranaweera’s seasoned craft, this trio holds the emotional and tactical threads of the team together.
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