It’s not been long since the historic maiden World Cup triumph of the India Senior Women’s Cricket Team at the DY Patil Stadium, the Women in Blue will be back in action later this month as they take on Asian rivals Sri Lanka in a five match T20I series.
The series marks India’s first international assignment since lifting the World Cup and offers the world champions a chance to fine‑tune combinations ahead of a busy 2026 calendar, the highlight of which is the T20 World Cup. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a strong, familiar squad, signaling continuity and trust in the core group that delivered the World Cup.
Harmanpreet Kaur will once again lead the side, with Smriti Mandhana named her deputy, reinforcing the leadership duo that has become the heartbeat of this team. The batting unit features the experienced top order of Mandhana and Shafali Verma, backed by the elegance and versatility of Jemimah Rodrigues and Harleen Deol.
The middle order carries plenty of all‑round depth with Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana and Amanjot Kaur all capable of changing games with both bat and ball. Players such as Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, and Sree Charani, alongside G Kamalini and Vaishnavi Sharma, who’ve earned maiden call-ups to the senior team, add fresh energy and options across departments, reflecting a healthy pipeline beneath the established stars.
The squad sees the return of Renuka Singh Thakur, who’ll spearhead the pace attack, while Deepti, Rana and the other spin options are likely to play a major role on Indian surfaces. Behind the stumps, Richa Ghosh remains the first-choice wicketkeeper, with Gunalan Kamalini included as the second keeper, providing flexibility both in team combination and batting order. Taken together, the squad blends experience, youth, power hitting and control qualities.
Sri Lanka’s tour begins on 21 December with the opening T20I in Visakhapatnam, giving Indian fans on the east coast the first opportunity to celebrate their world champions at home. The second T20I will also be played in Visakhapatnam on 23 December, allowing the venue to host a festive back‑to‑back start to the series.
The action then shifts south to Thiruvananthapuram, which stages the final three matches: the third T20I on 26 December, the fourth on 28 December and the fifth and final game on 30 December. With the series spread across just ten days, both teams will need to manage workloads smartly while maintaining intensity.
For India, this series is about more than just results. It is a chance to showcase the dominance that carried them to the world title, to reward home supporters with high quality cricket, and to test players under the pressure of expectation that now accompanies the world champions. As India return to the field, the T20I series promises a fitting start to the next chapter of an already golden era.
India’s squad for the Sri Lanka Women’s T20I series:
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Richa Ghosh (WK), G Kamalini (WK), Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma
Uma Chetry and Radha Yadav’s omission from India’s first post World Cup squad inevitably drew attention, given how closely they have been associated with the core group. Chetry had grown into a reliable reserve wicketkeeper and middle‑order option, while Radha’s left‑arm spin, control through the middle overs and electric fielding have often given India balance in white‑ball cricket.
Their absence for the Sri Lanka T20Is, however, feels more like a strategic rotation than a closed door. With India fresh from a global title, the selectors appear keen to use home conditions to audition the next wave of talent, resting a few regulars without dismantling the structure of a champion side.
Into that space step two standout performers from the recent Under‑19 Women’s T20 World Cup: 17‑year‑old wicketkeeper‑batter G Kamalini and 19-year-old Vaishnavi Sharma. Kamalini has 228 runs at an average of 32.57 and a strike rate of 108.06, including a composed 56 against England Under‑19s, and also scored 143 runs across seven matches at the U-19 World Cup itself. Those figures capture a player who can both anchor and accelerate, an ideal skill set for the modern T20 middle order.
Vaishnavi, meanwhile, was the cutting edge of India’s junior attack, claiming 17 wickets at a stunning bowling average of 4.35 in 6 matches of U-19 World Cup, highlighted by sensational figures of 5 for 5 against Malaysia Under‑19s. By fast‑tracking them into the senior setup, India not only reward performance but also send a clear message that even world champions must keep evolving, with pressure from below ensuring the Women in Blue stay hungry and future‑ready.
Loves all things female cricket