Author: Trisha Ghosal

Trisha Ghosal, Thiruvananthapuram Sri Lanka have their task cut out. It is no longer about the series alone; it is now a matter of self-respect. The visitors are 2–0 down, but the bigger concern is the manner of those defeats. Sri Lanka have simply not been able to challenge India across departments. The only player who has managed to push the Indians, even if only marginally, has been their stalwart Chamari Athapaththu. It was therefore expected that Sri Lanka would respond with an intense practice session. Though it is December, Thiruvananthapuram in the afternoon can be unmercifully hot. A cool…

Sri Lanka arrive in Trivandrum staring at the prospect of the series slipping beyond reach, trailing 2–0 after the Vizag leg. Another defeat would effectively seal the contest, but captain Chamari Athapaththu made it clear that results are only one part of a larger rebuilding process. On the eve of the third T20I, Athapaththu spoke candidly about her team’s shortcomings and the road ahead. Batting and Finishing: A Clear Weak Spot Athapaththu did not shy away from identifying Sri Lanka’s biggest concern. “We need to improve our batting, especially in the middle order and in finishing games. Our power game…

India Women head coach Amol Muzumdar addressed the media on the eve of the Trivandrum leg of the series, with the hosts firmly in control at 2–0 after comprehensive wins in Vizag. With three matches remaining, Muzumdar stressed that while results matter, the larger focus remains on preparation and adaptability. Adapting to Conditions, Not Chasing Challenges Muzumdar made it clear that India’s approach would be dictated by conditions rather than preconceived ideas. With the team yet to fully assess the Trivandrum surface, he said decisions on batting or bowling first would be taken only after reading the…

Selection headaches are often spoken about as a problem, but occasionally they signal something far more encouraging; squad depth, competition and momentum. India’s spin department, over the first two T20Is, has offered exactly that, placing the team management in a comfortable position ahead of crucial World Cup preparations. The spotlight, quite rightly, has been on Vaishnavi Sharma. Just two games into her international career, she already looks at ease at this level. Yes, she was taken on in her first over in the last game, conceding 14 runs, but what followed revealed far more about her temperament. Vaishnavi bounced back…

Shafali Verma has made a habit of lighting up scoreboards, but on Tuesday evening in Vizag, she did something arguably more significant – she showed restraint. Her unbeaten 69 off just 34 balls against Sri Lanka was vintage Shafali in outcome, but refreshingly evolved in approach. India were already 1–0 up in the series, having chased down 121 in 14.4 overs in the opener. Sri Lanka managed seven more runs in the second T20I, but the result was even more emphatic. India completed the chase in a mere 11.5 overs, and at the heart of it stood Shafali, calm before…

Following India women’s emphatic second T20I victory, Player of the Match Shafali Verma fronted the post-match press conference with calm assurance, reflecting on her form, the team’s progress and the road ahead as preparations for the T20 World Cup gather momentum. Takeaways from two convincing wins Asked about the positives from the Vizag leg and areas that still need work, Shafali acknowledged the strong performances while admitting there is room for improvement. “There have been a lot of good things in these two matches,” she said, before pointing to fielding as an area of continued focus. “We know we are…

India women made it two wins in two matches with another emphatic performance, this time headlined by a Shafali Verma masterclass. Sri Lanka, batting first, managed 128/9 in their 20 overs, a total India chased down in just 11.5 overs to underline their dominance. India are once again showing why they are the reigning world champions. If the last game belonged to Jemimah Rodrigues, this one was unmistakably Shafali’s. While Jemimah had reminded everyone in the opener why India triumphed in the World Cup 2025 semi-final, Shafali brought back memories of the final. She was in sublime touch from the…

India stamped their authority in the series opener with a commanding eight-wicket win. Chasing a modest target of 121, they cruised home in just 14.4 overs, with 32 balls to spare. The margin of victory reflected India’s dominance, even though there were areas, particularly fielding, that the hosts would want to tighten going into the second T20I. India come into the second game with confidence firmly on their side. The batting unit looks largely settled, the bowling attack has variety, and the overall balance of the XI appears strong as the road to the 2026 T20 World Cup in England…

In what comes as a huge boost to women’s cricket in India’s domestic circuit, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approved a 2.5 times increase in match fees for women cricketers. The decision was taken at its Apex Council meeting, sources have confirmed. As per the revised structure, senior women cricketers playing 50-over domestic matches will now earn Rs 50,000 per match if they are part of the playing XI. Reserves will receive Rs 25,000 per match. In the T20 format, players in the playing XI will earn Rs 25,000 per match, with reserves set to…

India’s comfortable victory over Sri Lanka in the first women’s T20I brought an old concern into sharp focus — fielding. Dew was not cited as an excuse, but it was certainly a possible reason for the slippery outfield and awkward handling. Even then, the larger issue goes beyond conditions. India dropped five catches, and that number alone tells a story that cannot be ignored any longer. This is not a one-off. India’s fielding has been inconsistent for a while now. During the ODI World Cup, there were moments of brilliance mixed with spells of untidiness. The trend continued from the…