India might scarcely have scripted a extra emphatic starting to life after the ODI World Cup triumph. Any fears of a post-tournament lull had been swiftly put to relaxation as Harmanpreet Kaur’s aspect hit the bottom operating, storming to a commanding eight-wicket victory over Chamari Athapaththu’s Sri Lanka within the collection opener at Visakhapatnam on Sunday. From the outset, India set the tempo and by no means allowed the guests a foothold within the contest.
Sri Lanka had been stored firmly on the again foot, with dew later amplifying their challenges. In want of a aggressive whole, they struggled to generate momentum and had been restricted to a modest 121. India’s reply was medical slightly than hurried, headlined by Jemimah Rodrigues’ fluent unbeaten 69 because the hosts cruised residence with 32 balls to spare,
But, amid the dominance, India is acutely aware that refinement stays important. With a full-strength tour of Australia scheduled for 2026 instantly after the Ladies’s Premier League, the aspect views this collection as an vital stepping stone in a pivotal T20 World Cup 12 months — one the place nice margins might outline success.
LANDING NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
One space that stood out as a priority for India within the collection opener was their fielding, which fell under the requirements the aspect has come to anticipate of itself. Shree Charani endured a forgettable outing within the deep, spilling two easy probabilities that will be taken 9 instances out of ten at this degree. A kind of lapses proved notably expensive for younger debutant Vaishnavi Sharmawho was left unlucky to overlook out on her maiden wicket in nationwide colors.
The rustiness prolonged to senior arms as nicely. Smriti Mandhana grasped a routine alternative at long-on, permitting Vishmi Gunaratne a second life, and solely compounded the error by inadvertently deflecting the ball over the rope for six. Past the dropped catches, India’s floor fielding additionally lacked its ordinary sharpness, with a number of misfields disrupting an in any other case disciplined show.
Whereas the night dew undoubtedly made circumstances tough and the ball tougher to grip, such elements provide solely partial mitigation. On the worldwide degree, the place margins are nice and requirements uncompromising, India will know that fielding stays an space demanding swift consideration regardless of an in any other case dominant efficiency.
OPENING PAIR NEEDS TO FIRE
India could have wrapped up the chase in simply 14.4 overs, however the collection opener additionally provided a reminder that the opening mixture nonetheless has room for fine-tuning. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, normally amongst India’s most harmful pairs, didn’t impose themselves regardless of the comfy eight-wicket win.
Contemporary off her match-defining heroics within the Ladies’s World Cup last, Shafali confirmed early intent, hanging a few crisp blows to get going. Nevertheless, her keep was temporary as seamer Kawya Kavinidi broke by way of to dismiss her in single digits, halting any probability of momentum on the high.
Mandhana, in the meantime, etched her title into the file books by turning into the first Indian to cross 4,000 runs in Ladies’s T20IsBut, it was a milestone reached on a comparatively subdued night, The left-hander discovered the boundary 4 instances however by no means fairly shifted gears, ending with a run-a-ball 25,
Whereas type is hardly a priority for a participant of her calibre, Mandhana would welcome a number of extra authoritative innings as India sit up for a demanding 2026 season.
CAN SRI LANKA BOUNCE BACK?
Sri Lanka regarded totally out of kinds within the collection opener, by no means fairly discovering their footing after an early blow. As soon as skipper Chamari Athapaththu departed—after hanging three boundaries—the innings slipped right into a holding sample from which it by no means recovered. As an alternative of urgent the accelerator through the last over of the Powerplay, the guests retreated into their shells, even conceding a maiden to Deepti Sharma, a second that underlined the overly cautious strategy that outlined their batting.
Vishmi Gunaratne top-scored with 39, however her innings got here at a strike charge of simply 90.70 and was aided by a reprieve when Smriti Mandhana put down a catch. Hasini Perera and Harshitha Samarawickrama additionally reached double figures, but neither managed to attain at higher than a run-a-ball, leaving Sri Lanka nicely wanting a aggressive whole.
The struggles prolonged to the bowling unit. Ambidextrous spinner Shashini Gimhani endured a forgettable outing, conceding 32 runs in simply two overs, whereas a lot of the assault appeared quick on management and confidence. Veteran left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera was the lone exception, providing some resistance on an in any other case troublesome night.
With so many facets misfiring, Sri Lanka face a stiff problem if they’re to bounce again and degree the collection. India, buoyed by a dominant begin and regardless of a number of areas nonetheless needing polish, head into the second T20I as overwhelming favourites.
2nd T20I, IND-W vs SL-W: Visakhapatnam PITCH AND CONDITIONS
The pitch in Visakhapatnam has largely favored batters in ladies’s internationals over the previous three months, and related circumstances are anticipated once more. Dew is prone to play a job, making batting simpler within the second innings and reinforcing the benefit of chasing.
The primary T20I was a living proof, with Jemimah Rodrigues underlining how conductive the floor turned as the sport wore on. Because of this, groups ought to have little hesitation in opting to subject first. Climate circumstances are set to be nice, with no menace of rain and temperatures hovering round 24°C.
1st T20I, IND-W vs SL-W: HEAD TO HEAD
India’s file in opposition to Sri Lanka in T20Is underlines their long-standing dominance within the rivalry. Of the 27 matches performed between the 2 sides, India have emerged victorious on 21 events, whereas Sri Lanka have managed simply 5 wins, with one contest ending in a no-result.
The hole widens additional on Indian soil, the place the hosts have received 5 of the seven conferences. Sri Lanka’s standout second in opposition to India in current instances, nonetheless, got here final 12 months, after they surprised the favorites to carry the Asia Cup with a memorable last victory.
1st T20I, IND-W vs SL-W: Predicted XI
India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani.
Sri Lanka: Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshi de Silva, Kaushani Nuthyangana (wk), Kavisha Dilhari, Malki Madara, Inoka Ranaweera, Kawya Kavindi, Shashini Gimhani/Rashmika Sewwandi.
– ends