As the sun sets again over Visakhapatnam for the second Women’s T20I between India and Sri Lanka on 23rd December, the contest feels less about the scoreline and more about rhythm, confidence and continuity. India may have taken a comfortable lead in the series, but T20 cricket rarely allows complacency. What it does reward, however, is form, and India have three players walking into this game with form written all over them: Jemimah Rodrigues, Smriti Mandhana and Kranti Gaud.
Jemimah Rodrigues
Few batters embody freedom quite like Jemimah Rodrigues when she is in touch, and the first T20I was a perfect reflection of that. Walking in with India needing composure more than urgency, Jemimah responded with an innings that felt effortless yet authoritative. Her unbeaten 69 off 44 balls wasn’t just about runs, it was about control. She absorbed pressure, rotated the strike smartly, and then opened her shoulders once the chase was firmly in hand.
In T20 Internationals, Jemimah has built a reputation as a middle-order stabiliser who can seamlessly transform into a finisher. Her strike rate hovering in the mid-120s may not scream explosiveness, but it speaks volumes about consistency and game awareness. In 100 T20I innings she has amassed 244 runs, at an average of 30.93 and a strike rate of 117.33, with the highest of 76. Heading into the second T20I, Jemimah doesn’t just carry runs with her, she carries calm, something invaluable in a format that rarely slows down.
Smriti Mandhana
At the top of the order stands Smriti Mandhana, a batter whose presence alone lifts the confidence of the dressing room. While her 25 in the opening game may not dominate headlines, it was an innings rich in intent and purpose. More importantly, it marked a historic moment. Mandhana became the first Indian woman to cross 4,000 T20I runs, a milestone that reflects years of consistency at the highest level.
Mandhana’s T20I numbers speak of longevity and adaptability. Whether it’s facing pace in seaming conditions or countering spin on slower surfaces, she has evolved her game without losing its elegance. She has racked up 4007 from 148 T20I innings, at a strike rate of 123.78 and an average of 29.90. If she gets going early in the second T20I, the game could tilt decisively within the Powerplay itself.
Kranti Gaud
While the batters often steal the spotlight, it was young Kranti Gaud who quietly impressed with the ball. In only her 2nd T20I when nerves could have easily crept in, Gaud looked composed, finishing with figures of 1 for 23 and making her presence felt with disciplined lines and clever variations.
What stands out about Gaud is her maturity. She doesn’t rush for wickets; instead, she builds pressure. Her ability to extract movement early and then settle into a tight channel makes her an asset, especially against a Sri Lankan line-up that relies heavily on a few key batters. For India, her emergence adds depth and balance to the bowling attack, and the second T20I presents another opportunity for her to grow into the international rhythm.
As India look to tighten their grip on the series, the second T20I feels like a stage set for continuity rather than correction. With Jemimah’s confidence peaking, Mandhana’s class anchoring the top, and Gaud’s promise adding freshness, these three players aren’t just ones to watch, they are shaping the narrative of this series, one moment at a time.
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