Excitement in air as world champion Indian women's team takes on Sri Lanka in two T20 matches in Vizag

Visakhapatnam: Excitement has filled the air ahead of the Indian women's cricket team's T20 matches against Sri Lanka in Vizag.

Fresh from their historic ODI World Cup triumph, India Women will take on Sri Lanka in a five-match T20 International series scheduled from December 21 to 30, with matches split between Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram.

Vizag will host the first two T20Is on December 21 and 23. This series marks the Women in Blue’s first international assignment after their World Cup-winning campaign earlier in November.

“Vizag, get ready. The world champions are coming this month. Any guesses who?” Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh posted on X:

The post drew enthusiastic responses from Vizagites, who expressed their eagerness to welcome the champions to the city.

Harmanpreet Kaur in Vizag

Adding to the excitement is the arrival of India women’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her squad. Harmanpreet led India to their maiden senior ICC women’s title by defeating South Africa in the final of the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup at the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

It may be noted that the Punjab Cricket Association named a stand in her honour at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. With this achievement, Harmanpreet etched her name in history as only the third Indian woman cricketer to have a stadium stand named after her. Earlier, Jhulan Goswami (Eden Gardens, Kolkata) and Mithali Raj (ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam) received the same distinction.

Harmanpreet is also the only active Indian woman cricketer to have a stand named after her.

India Squad

This series will also be significant for vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, marking her first international outing after a personal setback. Meanwhile, spinner Vaishnavi Sharma and wicketkeeper G Kamalini have earned their maiden call-ups to the national side.

India squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Richa Ghosh (WK), G Kamalini (WK), Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma.

The series was originally scheduled against Bangladesh but was cancelled, prompting the BCCI to organise the Sri Lanka series as a replacement.

Opportunity ahead of T20 World Cup

The T20I series against Sri Lanka is seen as a crucial preparatory platform for the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, to be held in England from June 12 to July 5. India has been placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, South Africa, and Australia. Despite strong performances over the years, India has yet to win the T20 World Cup, finishing runners-up in 2020 after losing the final to Australia.

Vizag ready for international cricket

The ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium recently hosted a men’s ODI between India and South Africa on December 6 and has undergone major renovations to meet international standards. The venue currently has a seating capacity of 25,000, with plans underway to expand it to 36,000, further strengthening Visakhapatnam’s position as a key destination for international cricket.

Tickets for the T20 International matches on December 21 and 23 went on sale from Monday at 7 p.m.