Opportunity Knocks: Youthful Prospects Shine in IND W vs SL W T20I Opener

Following their triumph in the ODI World Cup, the Indian team is now gearing up to transition to the T20 format in preparation for next year’s major international tournament, captain Harmanpreet Kaur announced on Saturday.

India will face Sri Lanka in the first match of a five-match T20I series at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.

India hopes that Smriti Mandhana’s excellent form from 2025 will carry into the new year. | Photo Credit: K.R. DEEPAK

“I relish a busy schedule like the one we had post-World Cup. I’m excited about this series; it’s been a month since we last played, and there’s nothing we enjoy more than being on the field,” she stated.

Kaur acknowledged the team is strategizing with an eye on the upcoming T20 World Cup, highlighted by the inclusion of a few young talents.

Read more: IND v SL T20I series preview: World champion back at the drawing board

“This series is crucial as we aim to perform at our best. Our ultimate objective is the T20 World Cup in six months, and to prepare, we intend to play a significant amount of T20 cricket. With new players in the squad, it’s the perfect opportunity to integrate them and set our course for the World Cup, playing with freedom and confidence,” she added.

Vaishnavi Sharma and G. Kamalini have earned their first senior call-ups as India readies for an important T20 World Cup journey. | Photo Credit: K.R. DEEPAK

The captain is also keen to capitalize on the team’s familiarity with the conditions in Visakhapatnam.

“This pitch is excellent. Dew will significantly influence the game here. Having played World Cup matches at this venue, we’re well-acquainted with the pitch characteristics and are preparing accordingly.”

Harmanpreet noted that India is well-versed with Sri Lanka’s strengths and weaknesses, even though the visitors have introduced a new squad comprising up-and-coming talents.

“Sri Lanka comes with a well-balanced team, particularly in batting, heavily relying on Chamari Athapaththu. The surrounding players are vital. Their spin attack excels in Asian conditions,” she observed.

Published on Dec 20, 2025