Shafali Verma of India Richa Ghosh of India celebrates after win the match during the 2nd T20I match between India and Sri Lanka at Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam, India, on December 23, 2025. (CREIMAS for BCCI)India Women (IND-W) vs Sri Lanka Women (SL-W) 2nd T20I Highlights: Shafali Verma smashed a 27-ball half century to power India’s run-chase in Visakhapatnam in the 2nd T20I on Tuesday as hosts took a 2-0 lead with a 7-wicket win, 49 balls to spare. Smriti Mandhana fell cheaply in the run-chase but Shafali and Jemimah Rodrigues gave India a blistering foundation, putting on 58 runs for the second wicket off just 28 balls before the latter was dismissed, the target of 129 made to look well below par in quick time.
Earlier, Chamari Athapaththu was in dangerous touch for Sri Lanka, but Sneh Rana dismissed her towards the end of the powerplay to give India the upper hand. That wicket proved to be the trigger for Indian spinners as SL ultimately posted 128/9 after 20 overs. Rana was drafted into the XI in place of Deepti Sharma, who missed out due to illness, and finished with 1/11 in her four overs. Vaishnavi Sharma and Sree Charani also chipped in with two wickets each, while SL suffered three run outs again.
Earlier, Harmanpreet Kaur opted to bowl first again Chamari Athapaththu’s Sri Lanka. India were dominant in the first T20I with bat and ball, so much that even dropping as many as five catches did not stop them from running away to a eight-wicket win. That was their eighth win in their last 10 T20Is against Sri Lanka.
Athapaththu had said after the defeat in the opening match of the series that Sri Lanka were far too defensive with the bat. While the intent was better in the second T20I, the scoreboard didn’t really reflect it eventually. India had wrapped up the chase in just 14.4 overs with Rodrigues smashing a fluent half-century. Read more about India’s win in the first T20I here.
Sri Lanka XI: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Vishmi Gunarathne, Kaushani Nuthyangana (wk), Inoka Ranaweera, Malki Madar, Kawya Kavindi, Shashini Gimhani
India XI: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Richa Ghosh(w), Sneh Rana, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani
Player of the match: SHAFALI VERMA
"The ball was holding up earlier, so focussed on scoring straight. Amol sir reminded me before the match, so thanks to him as well. It was a good knock for me, I kept myself quite calm. After 3-4 overs, the ball came on nicely. Learning from the sport every day. Acceptance is everything, I am working on that to improve myself."
It was Jemimah Rodrigues with a 69* in the first match.
It was Shafali Verma with a 69* in the second match.
(Remember the run outs coincidence from earlier too and all in all, a pretty eerie sense of deja vu for Sri Lanka)
INDIA ROMP TO A 2-0 LEAD.
It's a 7-wicket win tonight, the finish coming in the 12th over, thanks to Shafali's blistering half century. Richa Ghosh finishes with a single through long off.
Harmanpreet has the chance to hit the winning runs but she gets too cheeky to try and lap one behind the stumps and Malki Madara is on target to rattle the stumps.
Harmanpreet Kaur b Malki Madara 10 (12 balls)
GImhani, the ambidextrous as well as left-arm wrist spinner, is finding life tough in India. The mystery hasn't really bothered the Indian batters. Jemimah smashed her around the other night and tonight Shafali helps herself to back-to-back fours.
Another expensive over but Harman left a bit angry there as Shafali doesn't respond quicky enough for a double. Shafali was standing at the striker's end and applauding Harman it seemed! Needed to put in a dive at the end there but all is fine now.
Time for a drinks break, just 16 needed off 10 overs.
27-ball HALF CENTURY! Masterful T20 batting from the batter nicknamed Shifu. Zen mode, power mode too. Nicely tucks one away through square leg for four to get to the landmark. Slightly streaky boundary to follow that, a top edged sweep over the short fine fielder. Another expensive over from Kawya.
Kaveesha can bowl both offbreak and legbreaks, she brings out the googlies in that over to cause some strife for Harmanpreet but the Indian captain helps herself to a double after a nice cut off the last ball.
Shafali, of course, is no mood to slow down, a lofted flick through midwicket for another four earlier in the over.
100 comes up for India, just 24 balls for the 2nd fifty of the night.
Shafali continues to keep the foot on the pedal. A lofted punch square of the wicket for another four to finish Kawya's over.
Ah, not to be a long innings for Jemi tonight but a fine knock nevertheless. Tries to take on Kawya down the ground but the pacer follows the batter and cramps her for room. Jemi ends up lofting this to the fielder at long on and berates herself on the way back.
Jemimah Rodrigues c Kaveesha Dilhari b Kaway Kavindi 26 (15 balls)
AND JEMIMAH TEES OFF TOO!
Not just taking it easy against Ranaweera anymore.
First a nice sweep past short fine for four. Then comes a lofted shot over mid off, all timing this one, and it clears the boundary rope. And finishes the over with a flatter one in that same region. Two fours and a six for Jemi in that over.
That too against perhaps Sri Lanka's best bowler.
SHAFALI VERMA ON THE CHARGE!
What an over for India. What a powerplay.
First, a gift from Chamari on Shafali's pads, swept for four. Then, the shovel down the ground that is Shafali's signature shot (sometimes her undoing too) and it sasils for a 78m six over long off. And then another lofted shot over cover.
But perhaps the one that would please most Indian fans, a lovely tap down the ground for a single next ball. That is what Shafali has been working on more.
Jemimah was a bit cautious against Inoka Ranaweera last match, as we had mentioned, the peach of a delivery that the veteran spinner bowled to her at the World Cup in Guwahati perhaps still on her mind. But nothing of that sort for Shafali. Two brilliant shots over cover, going with the expected direction of spin and smashing two fours back-to-back. The fielder goes back there, and Shafali hits a single through that area. Smart batting.
Oh wait, another no ball. We thought the over was done. But Jemi has a free hit on offer here. She makes room, Ranaweera goes really slow and down the leg side, Jemi has all the time in the world to loft one over mid on for another four.
Huge over for India. 50 comes up. 16 rums from that over.
Jemi's first scoring shot is a late cut for four. Of course.
As we had written in the report last match...
Sri Lanka pacer Malki Madara thought it was a close call for caught behind when she bowled a 104.6kph delivery at a good length just outside the off stump, but Jemimah executed the perfect late cut – a shot she plays so well – for her first boundary of the innings. It set the tone for what was to follow from the Mumbaikar. In the post-match interview, when she was told maybe Sri Lanka should consider putting three-four fielders in that region, she joked: “I will still find the gap.”
AND THE MATCH UP WORKS! Kaveesha strikes with her first ball. Smriti looking to go against the tact, perhaps trying to throw Kaveesha early on. Dances down the ground but mistimes the lofted stroke, the outside edge carries to the fielder at point. Another start not converted by Smriti in this series.
Smriti Mandhana c Kawya Kavindi b Kaveesha Dilhari 14 (11 balls)
Kaveesha replaces Kawya's pace. Perhaps trying that match-up against Smriti.
Oh dear, costly over. Malki first bowls a no ball. And in order to try and keep Smriti quiet with the free hit, bowls two deliveries wide... too wide though, and called as such. So the free hit remains and when Malki comes within the line of stumps, Smriti plays a lovely pick-up shot over square leg for a six. Lovely timing on that.
India off to a flier here.
India get a move on... Shafali, first. Dances down the track like she likes to. Kawya actually does well to shorten the length but Shafali's quick hands come into play. She rolls her wrists, keeps the pull down and the ball races away through midwicket. Later in the over, Smriti also uses her feet, converts a length ball into a full one and lofts one down the ground. Fire and ice.
Smriti and Shafali to star the run chase and Malki with the new ball in hand. Mandhana with a backfoot punch straight away to get off the mark. Shafali, meanwhile, is rooted to the spot with her 2 shots finding fielders. Back to back wides now as Malki fizzes both balls down leg side before Shafali finally gets off the mark with single off the next delivery. Another single by Mandhana to end.
Another night, another three run outs. They had to run of course, but well short in this one. Kranti with the throw from the deep.
Kaushini Nuthyangana run out (Kranti Gaud/ Richa Ghosh) 11 (9 balls)
Incidentally: Kranti+Richa, Amanjot+Richa, Sree Charani+Richa are the exact three combinations for the three run outs.
Another run out. There have been so many of these in two matches. Richa Ghosh is well away from the stumps after trying to collect a wide. But she comes back into position quickly enough. Needs to put in a dive at the end, but does it well. She missed another stumping in the previous over but she has been on point with her gathering of throws.
Kawya Kavindi run out (Shree Charani/ Richa Ghosh) 1 (1 ball)
Vaishnavi has her 2nd! Nicely flighted up. Last over of the innings, so obviously a big shot attempted. But no power in the shot and it is a simple catch at long on for Mandhana. More smiles for Vaishnavi. Like a London bus and all that.
Shashini Gimhani c Smriti Mandhana b Vaishnavi Sharma 0 (1 ball)
Charani finishes her bowling innings with another wicket! That is a really sharp catch by Amanjot at long off, diving forward and completing a solid one.
Kavisha Dilhari c Amanjot Kaur b Sree Charani 14 (18 balls)
c Sree Charani b Vaishnavi Sharma
Should have happened on Sunday, does happen on Tuesday. The youngster gets her first T20I wicket and plenty of smiles all around. Maybe it was written in the stars! Nilakshika goes for the sweep and can only find the fielder at short fine leg.
Nilakshika Silva c Sree Charani b Vaishnavi Sharma 2 (3 balls)
For the 2nd time in 2 matches, Amanjot Kaur and Richa Ghosh (and a SL batter of course) have given the TV umpire plenty of work to do! Tonight it is Gayatri Venugopalan in the hotseat, she takes a lot of time to go through the angles and eventually decides it is out. It was Nilakshika the other night, Kaveesha tonight. Diving but bat pops up in the air before getting grounded.
Harshitha Samarawickrama run out (Amanjot Kaur/ Richa Ghosh) 33 (32 balls)
End of a fantastic night of bowling work from Sneh Rana. The big wicket of Chamari, a maiden over and 1/11 in her four overs.
Oh dear. Vaishnavi Sharma's wait for the first wicket continues with another fielding mishap. Richa Ghosh slips and falls, what should have been a simple catch ends up falling in the middle of nowhere! Nice to see Harman put an arm around the youngster. They can both see the lighter side. Richa is fine too, just unfortunate that her footing gave way.
Kaveesha has another nervy moment. India initially decide not to review this LBW thinking there was glove involved. But Vaishnavi says that not true and Harman goes for a late review. Looked like a good call, to be fair. But the ball-tracking shows missing leg stump.
Really good over from Vaishnavi though.
The broadcast is showing 33 balls since last boundary but that shouldn't be true. First ball of Arundhati Reddy's over, Harshitha plays a sweep to a ball that was well angled into her pads. Richa couldn't stop it, and it went for four. But the umpire signalled leg byes. Lucky for Arundhati.
SREE CHARANI STRIKES! That'll break the left-left stand. Fires one quicker at aroun 82kph, Hasini gets into no position to loft this down the ground, the mishit just loops back to Charani. She has been having a tough time in the field, but steadies herself underneath this one and takes a nervy catch. Smiles afterward.
Hasini Perera c & b Shree Charani 22 (28 balls)
Oh that's unfortunate for Amanjot (although it doesn't go against her numbers). Short ball, pull attempted by the batter but Richa got up too early and the ball sneaks through her pads for four byes. Spoiled a good over otherwise.
Harman has a call to make with her two left-arm spinners tonight with the two left-handed batters in the middle. Vaishnavi was targetted in that one over but now Sree Charani comes into the attack and bowls a tidy first over, conceding six singles. Harman won't mind that.
What an over from Sneh Rana! Sri Lanka scoring 27 runs off the three overs after Chamari's dismissal... including a boundary in the previous from the returning Kranti Gaud. But Sneh Rana comes back into the attack and bowls a brilliant maiden over. Top stuff. Great control of her lengths, the speed varying between 76kph to 84kph, completely tied down Harshitha who wasn't trying to just play it out.
Earlier to end the powerplay, Sneh Rana bowled the perfect over that India needed. A few length deliveries to keep Chamari in check, then went fuller and drew the false shot from th SL captain who looked in great touch until then. It was mistimed and the lofted shot went to Amanjot at long off, who took the catch after a brief juggle.
BIG, BIG WICKET FOR INDIA. But Sri Lanka keep the scoring rate going after that.
(The wicket entry wasn't reflecting in our earlier updates).
BIG OVER! Sri Lanka not slowing down after Chamari's wicket, that's a superb sign for them. Amanjot comes in for the 7th over, Hasini goes down the ground for a four.
Vaishnavi brought into the attack for the 8th over. And the rookie, who was so economical on Sunday night, is getting a taste of T20I cricket at the senior level here. Harshitha goes after the youngster, first a sweep past square leg and then two shots past short third and backward point with two well-timed square cuts.
WOW! CHAMARI SPECIAL! First, a simple clip down the leg side, that's easy pickings for four. But then comes the big one. Length ball, on the middle stump but angling in, Chamari sends it soaring over midwicket. 72m six.
THAT SOUNDED SO GOOD OFF THE BAT.
Sneh Rana into the attack early on, and starts off with three nice dot balls. Slowing things up and not letting Chamari go hard. The pitch actually does seem quite two-paced in these early stages. Fourth ball, Sneh goes fuller and wider, and Chamari slashes it past point for another four. She's looking in good touch, is the SL skipper.
5-run over from Sneh to start off her night.
BIG OVER FOR SL! The captain looking to set the tone indeed. Dances down the track twice against Kranti. First time, nails a grounded cut past point for four. The last ball though will go down as a fielding error. Chamari again comes down the track and Kranti shortens the length. The SL batter goes hard at it, and the outside edge is flying flat towards deep third. But Sree Charani, who had a poor night in the field on Sunday, makes the mistake of charging towards the ball instead of holding her ground near the rope. Could have been a catch head high, but now it flies over her.
The first boundary of the night comes off Hasini's bat, as she picks up a short of length ball from Arundhati early and pulls it strongly past mid on. Arundhati changes her angle around the wicket after that and keeps the ball wide of off stump.
An intent-filled cover drive from Vishmi first up, stopped by Jemimah at cover. Not waiting to go around the wicket to Chamari tonight, a very similar delivery that got her out last time, but this time Chamari defends it well. More good fielding from India as Harman prevents a boundary down the ground.
But Kranti does get the wicket in the first over, this time drawing a false shot down the ground from Vishmi. Chamari said she wanted her batters to target down the ground but this is uppish and too close to the bowler. Kranti, who took a blinder in the World Cup to dismiss Tazmin Brits if you recall, accepts a simple catch.
Vishmi Gunaratne c & b Kranti Gaud 1 (3 balls)
Vishmi, the right-hander, and Chamari, the left-hander, in the middle. Kranti will get things going for India with the ball.
Chamari said after the first match and at the toss today as well, that she'd like to see more from her batters (herself included) in terms of intent and execution. And her batting is still key to Sri Lanka after all these years. Can she set the tone tonight? An early challenge awaits from Kranti Gaud once more.
Amanjot Kaur: We just wanted to keep up the momentum and improve our fielding. As a bowler, I look to bowl at stumps and use variations. I know I have not been effective with the ball in the World Cup, but I have been training hard and you will see me bowl more. We want to set better standards in fielding.
India decide to stick with the same balance from the first T20I but their batting depth is something to keep an eye on. Sneh Rana has obviously shown what she's capable of lower down the order, but perhaps if Shafali can also be used as a bowling option, then India could consider playing another batting option too.
Let's see how that pans out in the matches and months to come.
This was Harmanpreet Kaur's reaction to winning back-to-back tosses!
Screengrab: JioHotstar
TEAM NEWS: One change for India with Deepti missing out, no changes for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka XI: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Vishmi Gunarathne, Kaushani Nuthyangana (wk), Inoka Ranaweera, Malki Madar, Kawya Kavindi, Shashini Gimhani
India XI: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Richa Ghosh(w), Sneh Rana, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani
INDIA BOWLING FIRST, for the record.
What do you know? Two toss wins as two as World Cup winning captain for Harmanpreet Kaur. "Winning toss is not my cup of tea.." she jokes.
TEAM NEWS: No Deepti Sharma tonight, the new world No 1 T20I bowler misses out due to illness. Sneh Rana, however, is a very capable replacement. The batting depth will be tested though.
Right, not long left for the match that is our focus tonight.
With the amount of dew in Vizag, captains will be looking to bowl first certainly.
Captain Jemi:
“It is an absolute honour to be named captain of the Delhi Capitals, and I am deeply grateful to the owners and the support staff for placing their faith in me to lead this team. It has truly been a dream year for me and my family, winning the World Cup and now being entrusted with this wonderful opportunity at a franchise that has held a very special place in my heart since the very first season of the WPL. I have learned so much over the last three years and have shared some of my best moments with the Delhi Capitals. This team is my family. While I will miss the players who were part of our journey in the first cycle, I am excited to create new memories with both familiar faces and new teammates. We have a strong group, and I can’t wait to get going as we look ahead to what we hope will be a very successful season, and finally cross that line that has eluded us in the last three years.” - Rodrigiues said, as per a DC press release.
JUST IN: Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues was announced as the new captain of Delhi Capitals (DC) on Tuesday, ahead of the fourth season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, which will commence on January 9 in Navi Mumbai.
The 25-year-old, who was one of DC’s retained players ahead of the WPL mega auction in November, will take over from Meg Lanning, who was released by the three-time finalists before the auction. Franchise owner Parth Jindal had announced on auction day that DC was looking for an Indian player to lead the side, ahead of the new season.
On, the back of historic World Cup win, women cricketers' domestic pay hiked by BCCI
Going forward, the BCCI has decided to have a uniform structure with those featuring in the starting XI will get Rs 50,000 per day, while those in the bench will get Rs 25,000 per day. Similarly, at the age group levels, players who are part of the XI will get Rs 25,000 per day and the rest will earn Rs 12,500 per day.
The BCCIs' Apex Council met on Monday evening to decide on the pay hike for the players and the umpires. And at the end of the meeting it was unanimously decided to increase the match fee for all women's cricketers. Until now, the Indian board used to pay Rs 20,000 per day for senior women's tournaments with the reserves getting Rs 10,000. The junior cricketers will be taking home Rs 10,000 (in the XI) and Rs 5,000 if you are part of the bench. It meant, women cricketers used to earn a mere Rs 2 lakh per season provided they played all the league matches in the senior tournaments. Now, it has been doubled. For domestic T20 players will get a fee of Rs 25,000 for making the playing eleven while those in bench will get Rs 12,500.
After India won the ICC 50-over World Cup, a significant change in the pay structure was expected, particularly at the domestic level. In 2022, the BCCI had announced that the female cricketers would get the same match fee as the men's team. Anyone who plays Test cricket gets Rs 15 lakh per match, while those who play ODIs and T20Is will take home Rs 6 and Rs 3 lakh respectively.
Jemimah Rodrigues was the player of the match on Sunday:
“For me, it is important to understand the conditions. To be honest, it was slightly sticky, not as flat as we thought it would be, but I was just in good touch. So I just wanted to continue that. And my mindset is simple. I feel I bat the best when I’m just blank and react to the ball, and that’s what I was doing. I didn’t think of the score either. Just thought of reacting to the ball and playing according to merit.”
India all-rounder Deepti Sharma has topped the ICC Women’s T20I Bowling Rankings for the first time in her career. Deepti’s haul of one for 20 in the opening T20I of their home series against Sri Lanka in Visakhapatnam was enough for the off-spinner to overtake Australia fast bowler Annabel Sutherland, pipping her by one rating point to sit at the top of the table with 737 points. Jemimah Rodrigues, India’s Player of the Match in Visakhapatnam, has moved up five spots to ninth among T20I batters after her unbeaten 69 off 44 balls and Sri Lanka opener Vishmi Gunaratne is up six places to 64th after scoring 39 runs.
Meanwhile South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt has regained the No.1 position in the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings after the latest weekly update, taking over from Smriti Mandhana.
Harmanpreet Kaur was happy overall with how India went but catching... yep, that old bugbear.
"Happy with how things went with bat and a ball, yes, but fielding is something that we are really working hard; I just don't know why we keep dropping catches. Next match will come up with an even better approach. Yes the conditions were wet, no doubt about it, but it's not an excuse. It is something which we really need to think about because in crucial matches, these things can cost us."
India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani, Harleen Deol, Renuka Singh Thakur, G Kamalini, Sneh Rana
Sri Lanka: Vishmi Gunaratne, Chamari Athapaththu(c), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshi de Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Kaushani Nuthyangana(w), Malki Madara, Inoka Ranaweera, Kawya Kavindi, Shashini Gimhani, Malsha Shehani, Imesha Dulani, Rashmika Sewwandi, Nimesha Madushani
It's not often that a team wins a T20I after dropping as many as five catches, let alone by a margin of nine wickets. But that is exactly what India experienced in the first T20I. The hosts will now be looking to do slightly better in the field while maintaining the same standards with bat and ball. For Sri Lanka, surely that defeat would've bruised them and captain Chamari Athapaththu seemed to have hit the nail on the head somewhat when she admitted they were too defensive with the bat. If they can also get their act together today, this could be a good game.
On a night when Sri Lanka batters combined to hit nine fours, Jemimah Rodrigues, by herself, hit 10 during a sublime, unbeaten knock of 69 that guided India to a comfortable eight-wicket win in the first T20I at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. The victory — the team’s first game since the 50-over World Cup final win in November — was effectively set up by a collective bowling display that restricted Chamari Athapaththu’s side to just 121/6. But the headlines will rightly belong to Jemimah for the class of her innings, with her offside strokeplay being a standout feature. Read more from Vinayakk Mohanarangan here.
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