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 begins to take shape. The focus now will be on consistency, sharper fielding, longer partnerships at the top, and more runs from the middle order.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have plenty to ponder. Despite moments of intent, their batting once again revolved heavily around Chamari Athapaththu. The lack of support around her and inconsistent strike rotation hurt them in the first game. To challenge India, their batters need to show greater responsibility and adaptability. The Sri Lankan bowlers, too, struggled to adapt to the conditions, often bowling too short or offering too much room for the Indian batters to free their arms.
Key Players to Watch
India
Smriti Mandhana: Fresh off becoming only the second woman to cross 4,000 T20I runs, Mandhana will be keen to convert starts into a substantial innings. Her battle against Sri Lanka’s slower bowlers will be key.
Kranti Goud: Kranti has been impressive with the new ball since her ODI debut, and it was no different in the last game. Her inswingers have troubled batters across teams. Goud’s ability to provide early breakthroughs in the powerplay has made a significant impact. If she can dismiss Athapaththu early, it could once again define the contest.
Sri Lanka
Chamari Athapaththu: Sri Lanka’s talisman remains central to their chances. A longer stay at the crease, especially through the powerplay, is crucial. Sri Lanka need their captain to produce a substantial knock to give the rest of the batting line-up a platform to build on. Athapaththu’s role as captain will be equally important. In the ODI World Cup match against India, she set some very effective fields, and even in the last game Sri Lanka had plans for the opening duo of Mandhana and Shafali Verma. However, they had few answers for Jemimah Rodrigues. While Jemimah’s late cuts are well known, Athapaththu could consider a slip early in her innings and push her to sweep more often. The sweep can be a double-edged shot for Jemimah and might present Sri Lanka with more wicket-taking opportunities. Athapaththu, the captain, needs to be more proactive.
Inoka Ranaweera: The left-arm spinner could play a vital role in breaking India’s rhythm during the middle overs. In the last game, she dismissed Mandhana just when the batter was settled and looking to accelerate. Ranaweera had also put India under pressure in the ODI World Cup match in Guwahati, where she picked up four wickets. Her figures in the last game read 1 for 17 in 3.4 overs at an economy of 4.6 runs per over, while every other Sri Lankan bowler conceded more than 6.5. She did not concede a single boundary. If she can add more wickets to that control, she could genuinely put India under pressure.
Probable Playing XI
Should be unchanged for both the sides.
India:
Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Amanjot Kaur, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Goud, Arundhati Reddy, N Shree Charani.
Sri Lanka:
Chamari Athapaththu (c), Vishmi Gunaratne, Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshi de Silva, Kaushini Nuthyangana (wk), Kavisha Dilhari, Inoka Ranaweera, Kawya Kavindi, Shashini Gimhani, Malki Madara.
With India aiming to iron out minor flaws and Sri Lanka desperate for a collective performance, the second T20I in Vizag promises another important step in both teams’ World Cup preparations.
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