India, Lanka start preparations for womens T20 World Cup

Just over a month after Harmanpreet Kaur led her side to glory in the Women’s ODI World Cup, attention now turns to the shortest format of the game, with all efforts tuned towards next year’s marquee T20 World Cup.

India boasts a strong record against Sri Lanka, winning 20 of their 26 T20I encounters so far. The island nation, however, can draw some encouragement from the fact that the series begins at the same venue where it last defeated India, back in 2014.

The epochal Asia Cup final triumph against the host in 2024 will also be a source of motivation.

A little over a year ago, India exited the T20 World Cup, held in the UAE, in the group stage. Two series victories in the format (2-1 vs West Indies at home and 3-2 vs England away) since have healed some of the wounds before the confetti and laurels of the ODI World Cup triumph.

The road to the latest edition of the T20 World Cup for India also includes two three-match series against its two biggest title rivals: Australia (February) and defending champion New Zealand (May-June).

The Women in Blue’s World Cup-winning squad largely features against Sri Lanka. Radha Yadav and Uma Chetry have made way for youngsters Vaishnavi Sharma (left-arm spinner) and G. Kamalini (keeper-batter).

Sri Lanka’s 2024 T20 World Cup sojourn was dreadful. It returned without a win and has played only one series since, a 1-1 draw against New Zealand away. The Lankans have opted for a new-look outfit against India, with fresh names eager to make a mark, including 17-year-old ambidextrous spinner Shashini Gimhani and left-arm spinner Nimesha Madushani.

As the focus shifts from celebration to calibration, the next 10 days will be about answers rather than outcomes. For India, it’s about fine-tuning a champion side. For Sri Lanka, it’s about laying new foundations.

Either way, the countdown to England has well and truly begun.

The teams (from): India: Harmanpreet Kaur (Capt.), Smriti Mandhana (Vice-capt.), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Thakur, Richa Ghosh, G. Kamalini, Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma.

Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (Capt.), Harshitha Samarawickrama (Vice-capt.), Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunaratne, Nilakshika Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Imesha Dulani, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Malsha Shehani, Inoka Ranaweera, Shashini Gimhani, Nimesha Madushani, Kawya Kavindi, Rashmika Sewwandi, Malki Madara.

Match starts at 7 p.m.