Jemimah Rodrigues Stars as India Women Beat Sri Lanka by Eight Wickets
India dominates with effortless 8-wicket victory in opener.
India Women launched their five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka Women with a resounding eight-wicket triumph in the opening match held at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on December 21, 2025. Returning to the shortest format following their historic maiden ODI World Cup victory earlier in the year, the hosts demonstrated superior depth in both bowling and batting departments to secure a commanding 1-0 lead.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to field first, a strategic decision that proved effective as the Indian bowlers exerted relentless pressure on the Sri Lankan batting lineup. Despite early dew affecting grip, the disciplined attack restricted the visitors to a sub-par 121 for 6 in their 20 overs. Vishmi Gunaratne provided the only notable resistance with 39 runs off 43 deliveries, while Harshitha Samarawickrama contributed 21. Kranti Gaud marked her impact by dismissing captain Chamari Athapaththu early, with Deepti Sharma and Shree Charani each claiming a wicket. Sharp fielding, including multiple run-outs, further stifled any potential acceleration from Sri Lanka.
The Indian bowling effort was complemented by economical spells across the board, preventing significant partnerships and ensuring the visitors struggled to capitalize on loose deliveries. Sri Lanka's innings lacked momentum in the middle overs, with errors compounding their challenges and resulting in a total that appeared insufficient even under dewy conditions.
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Chasing 122, India approached the target with composure and authority, completing the task in just 14.4 overs to finish at 122 for 2, with 32 balls remaining. Jemimah Rodrigues delivered a masterful performance, remaining unbeaten on 69 from 44 balls, laced with 10 boundaries that showcased her exquisite timing, particularly through the off-side. Her innings, which included deft glides and innovative strokes, earned her the Player of the Match award and highlighted her growing stature at the No. 3 position.
Rodrigues received solid support from Smriti Mandhana, who scored 25 before falling to Inoka Ranaweera, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who remained unbeaten on 15. The partnerships for the second and third wickets both exceeded 50 runs—a first for India Women in T20I cricket—underlining the batting unit's depth and control. Sri Lanka's bowlers, including young chinaman spinner Shashini Gimhani, struggled to contain the hosts, with fielding lapses adding to their difficulties in the latter stages.
Post-match, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu acknowledged the inadequacy of their total and the need for a more positive approach in upcoming games, while Harmanpreet Kaur praised her team's overall display but noted room for improvement in fielding. The second T20I is scheduled for December 23 at the same venue, where Sri Lanka will aim to regroup against a confident Indian side preparing for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
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