Visakhapatnam
The Indian women’s cricket team has returned to training mode at the BCCI Centre of Excellence ahead of the five match T20I series against Sri Lanka Women, starting on December 21 in Visakhapatnam. This series marks India’s first assignment after their successful ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 campaign, where they lifted the trophy in Navi Mumbai last month.
Most members of the World Cup winning squad have been retained for the T20I series, showing the team management’s trust in the core group. On Friday, the entire squad took part in a tough and focused training session in Vizag as they prepared for the opening match.
Fast bowler Renuka Singh Thakur has returned to the T20I setup after missing the earlier series against England due to injury. Her comeback comes after a strong performance during the ODI World Cup. The squad also includes 19 year old spinner Vaishnavi Sharma, who has earned her maiden call up to the senior T20I team. Vaishnavi was the leading wicket taker in the recent Under 19 Women’s World Cup, where India won the title for the second time in a row. She celebrated her birthday with teammates after the practice session.
The series is an important step for captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her team as they begin preparations for the T20 World Cup next year in England and Wales. India last played T20Is during their England tour in July, winning the series 3-2.
India enjoy a strong record against Sri Lanka, winning 20 of their 26 meetings. Sri Lanka’s last T20I win in India came in 2014, also in Visakhapatnam. The upcoming matches give India a chance to continue their dominance at home.