The Indian women’s cricket team launches its five match T20I series against Sri Lanka at the ACA-VDCA Stadium, Visakhapatnam, on December 21, 2025, Sunday, with captain Harmanpreet Kaur signaling a clear eye on next year’s T20 World Cup. Hot on the heels of their ODI World Cup triumph, the Women in Blue are flipping the switch to T20 mode, injecting fresh talent into the mix to sharpen their global ambitions.
Harmanpreet, ever the battler, brushed off post tournament fatigue during her pre match chat. “The last few days were hectic, but I want such a schedule after every World Cup. So, I don’t mind that. I am looking forward to this series; we have been waiting for a month to get back on the field because, at the end of the day, we enjoy ourselves best on the field,” she said, her voice brimming with that familiar fire.
This series is pivotal in India’s roadmap to the T20 World Cup in six months. Harmanpreet spotlighted the debut call ups for Vaishnavi Sharma and G. Kamalini, framing it as prime time for experimentation.
“It’s a very important series for us and hopefully we all give our best shot. Our end goal is the T20 World Cup, and before that we want to play a lot of T20 cricket. We have some new players in the team; it’s the right time to give them a fair chance to understand how we have to go in the next World Cup. We want to play with a free mindset and play how we have been playing T20 cricket in the last couple of years.”
The strategy hints at smart rotation, balancing proven stars like Smriti Mandhana who’s been in wonderful form through 2025 with emerging firepower. Mandhana’s top order reliability could prove gold on this deck, which India knows inside out from recent World Cup clashes. “This pitch is really good. Dew is going to play a huge role, especially here. We played World Cup games here and we know what kind of pitch is on offer and how to respond to it. We are preparing ourselves accordingly,” Harmanpreet added.
Sri Lanka won’t roll over easily. Their revamped squad packs balance, leaning hard on Chamari Athapaththu’s explosiveness but backed by solid support. “Sri Lanka has a very balanced side, especially their batting, even if it is highly dependent on Chamari. The players around her play a very big role. I think their spin attack is quite good; they have been dominating Asian conditions,” the skipper cautioned.
Beyond the bilateral stakes, this is India’s T20 laboratory testing youth under lights, chasing dew affected totals, and honing that fearless edge. With tosses likely favoring bowls first calls, expect tactical chess from both ends. Harmanpreet’s steady hand could unlock breakthroughs, as India chases another white ball crown.
The ODI World Champions have their sights firmly set on the upcoming T20 World Cup, and this series promises the breakthrough they need to hit top gear. The Women in Blue remain laser focused, knowing their end goal is within striking distance.
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