VISAKHAPATNAM: India’s two women cricketers suffered back-to-back defeats — against Australia and South Africa — at this venue in the ICC ODI World Cup in November. But that’s a forgotten chapter after they emerged world champions at South Africa’s expense in the final in Navi Mumbai. The team’s first assignment as world champions will be a five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, with the first at the ACA-VDCA Stadium here on Sunday.
This series will be ideal preparation for the Women’s T20 World Cup next year. The Harmanpreet Kaur led side will be overwhelming favourites with a 20-6 win-loss record against Sri Lanka, whose last victory was in the 2024 Asia Cup final. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Varma form a lethal combination at the top. The presence of Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpeet and hard hitting Richa Ghosh along with allrounders Deepti Sharma and Amanjot Kaur will test the Sri Lankan attack. Renuka Singh, who missed India’s last T20I series — a 3-2 win over England in England — is back and vital to India’s chances with the new ball. It will be a toss-up between Kranti Goud and Arundhati Reddy.
