Harmanpreet Kaur & Co. kicked off the Sri Lanka Women tour of India 2025 in spectacular fashion, securing a comfortable eight-wicket victory at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.
Disciplined Indian bowling restricts Sri Lanka to 121
India’s decision to bowl first paid immediate dividends. Kranti Gaud provided the early breakthrough by dismissing the dangerous Sri Lankan captain, Chamari Athapaththu, for 15. While Vishmi Gunaratne played a gritty knock of 39 off 43 balls, she struggled to find consistent support at the other end.
The Indian spinners applied the brakes effectively during the middle overs. Deepti Sharma was the standout performer, conceding just 20 runs in her four overs and claiming the wicket of Hasini Perera. Debutant Vaishnavi Sharma also played a vital role, maintaining an economy rate of just 4.00. Sri Lanka’s innings was further derailed by three crucial run-outs, involving sharp work from Richa Ghosh behind the stumps. Despite late efforts from Harshitha Madavi (21), Sri Lanka could only manage 121/6 in their 20 overs.
Jemimah Rodrigues powers India’s rapid chase
India’s pursuit of 122 started with an explosive burst from Shafali Verma, who hammered 9 runs off 5 balls before falling to Kawya Kavindi. However, the early wicket did little to slow India’s momentum. Smriti Mandhana (25) and Jemimah Rodrigues combined for a 54-run partnership that effectively took the game away from the visitors.
Rodrigues was in sublime form, striking the ball with precision and intent. She finished unbeaten on 69 from just 44 deliveries, a knock featuring ten boundaries at a strike rate of 156.82. Her aggressive approach ensured that India stayed well ahead of the required run rate throughout the powerplay and beyond.
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Clinical finish by Rodrigues Harmanpreet Kaur
After Mandhana was dismissed by the veteran Inoka Ranaweera in the ninth over, captain Harmanpreet Kaur joined Rodrigues to navigate the final stretch. Kaur played a steady supporting role, scoring 15 off 16 balls, while Rodrigues continued to find the boundary with ease.
The duo shared an unbeaten 55-run stand, guiding India to 122/2 in just 14.4 overs. The comprehensive nature of the win highlights India’s depth and tactical superiority, particularly in the bowling and fielding departments which accounted for half of the Sri Lankan wickets via run-outs.
Jemimah Rodrigues shines in India’s victory over Sri Lanka 🏏#cricket #INDWvSLW #1stT20I pic.twitter.com/tbN2zVGZM3
— WomenCricket.com (@WomenCricketHQ) December 22, 2025
With a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, Team India head into the next fixture with significant momentum. For Sri Lanka, the focus will be on improving their strike rotation and finding ways to counter India’s disciplined spin attack. The two teams will meet again on Tuesday as Sri Lanka looks to bounce back and level the series in what promises to be an exciting tour.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
