India shook off a brief spell of post-title rust to begin their T20I series against Sri Lanka with a commanding victory in Visakhapatnam, as disciplined bowling laid the platform before Jemimah Rodrigues steered a smooth chase. Returning to action 50 days after lifting the ODI World Cup, the hosts eased to an eight-wicket win with more than five overs to spare, starting their build-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup in convincing fashion.
On a cool evening where dew steadily increased, India’s bowlers — particularly the spinners — applied the squeeze from early on. Sri Lanka never found momentum and were held to a modest 121 for 6, a total that always looked under-par once Harmanpreet Kaur opted to chase at the toss. India’s response was calm and assured, with Rodrigues anchoring the innings in style.
Playing her 100th T20I, Rodrigues delivered a statement knock that likely settled any debate around India’s No. 3 position. Her unbeaten 69 off 44 balls, her 14th T20I fifty, blended control with intent and ensured there were no alarms in the chase. It marked India’s sixth win in ten matches since their early exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup league stage.
Gaud shines as spinners apply the choke
India went in with a three-seamer attack, handing Kranti Gaud — just two games into her T20I career — the role of lead pacer. The move paid off almost immediately. After being driven for three boundaries by Chamari Athapaththu, Gaud smartly altered her angle and produced a sharp in-dipper to bowl the Sri Lanka captain for her maiden T20I wicket.
That breakthrough opened the door for India’s spinners to dictate terms. While wickets didn’t tumble in clusters, the scoring rate was firmly under control. Sri Lanka’s middle-order batters struggled to shift gears, despite using sweeps and reverse sweeps to try and disrupt the lengths.
There were lapses in the field — several dropped chances across the innings — but they proved inconsequential. Even with missed opportunities, India conceded only 30 runs across the final four overs, a testament to the sustained pressure applied by the bowlers.
Calm chase, Rodrigues takes charge
India’s chase began briskly, with Shafali Verma striking a boundary off a free hit in her first international appearance since Navi Mumbai. However, her stay was brief, and the responsibility soon fell on Smriti Mandhana and Rodrigues to settle the innings.
Mandhana looked slightly scratchy early on but still reached a major milestone, becoming just the second woman to cross 4000 T20I runs. Rodrigues, meanwhile, was fluent from the outset. She punished loose deliveries, used the depth of the crease effectively, and worked the gaps with precision through sweeps and deft touches.
A productive over against Shashini Gimhani at the end of the powerplay allowed India to lift the tempo, and Rodrigues brought up her half-century in just 34 balls. Even after Mandhana departed, there was no change in approach. Rodrigues stitched together an unbroken partnership with Harmanpreet Kaur to finish the job without fuss.
With a dominant win secured and little turnaround time before the second T20I at the same venue, India will take confidence from a performance that combined control, adaptability, and a reassuring return to competitive action.
