Breaking News Analysis: India Women have delivered yet another commanding performance against Sri Lanka, securing a resounding seven-wicket victory in the second T20I and extending their lead to 2-0 in the five-match series. The match, played on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, saw a brilliant all-round effort from the hosts, spearheaded by a blistering unbeaten half-century from opener Shafali Verma. This dominant display underlines India’s formidable strength in women’s T20I cricket and sets a challenging precedent for the remainder of the series.

Verma’s Vintage Power-Hitting Guides India’s Chase

At the heart of India’s chase was the explosive Shafali Verma, who unleashed a brutal 69 not out off just 34 balls. Her innings was a masterclass in aggressive yet controlled batting, decorated with boundaries that consistently put the Sri Lankan bowlers under immense pressure. Verma’s ability to find gaps and clear the ropes at will meant India chased down the target of 129 with an astonishing 49 balls to spare, reaching 129 for 3 in just 11.5 overs.

Receiving the Player of the Match award, Shafali reflected on her innings, stating that ‘the ball was holding up a bit early on, so the plan was to play along the ground and take singles.’ This insight reveals a maturity in her game, moving beyond her natural attacking instincts when conditions demand. She further added that she has ‘worked on this aspect of her game throughout the year,’ with coach Amol Muzumdar also reminding her to play that way. Her comments, ‘kept herself calm and kept talking through the innings’ and ‘learned a lot from this knock and realised she can still score freely by playing shots along the ground,’ underscore a significant evolution in her batting approach. This blend of aggression and tactical awareness makes her an even more dangerous proposition for opposition bowlers, a testament to her continuous growth and the adage that ‘cricket always teaches you something and that acceptance is key.’

While Verma stole the show, Jemimah Rodrigues also made a valuable contribution, chipping in with a brisk 26 off 15 balls, forging a rapid 58-run stand with Shafali that effectively sealed the contest. Even a late run-out of captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh striking the winning runs did little to dampen the sheer dominance of India’s batting.

Indian Bowlers Set the Tone with Clinical Performance

The foundation for India’s comfortable victory was laid by their bowlers, who executed their plans with precision after captain Harmanpreet Kaur opted to bowl first. They successfully restricted Sri Lanka to a modest 128 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. This collective bowling effort prevented the Sri Lankan batters from gaining any significant momentum throughout their innings.

Harmanpreet Kaur expressed her satisfaction, stating she was ‘really happy with the way they bowled in this game,’ adding that ‘the bowlers were fantastic and put them in a great position.’ Every bowler contributed effectively, with Sneh Rana particularly impressing by conceding a mere 11 runs while claiming a crucial wicket. Young Vaishnavi Sharma had a memorable outing, bagging her maiden WT20I wicket and finishing with two scalps, much to the delight of her captain who was ‘happy for her getting her maiden wicket after they missed a few chances in the first game.’ Sree Charani also picked up a brace, and Kranti Gaud added one more wicket to complete a comprehensive bowling display.

The Indian skipper also highlighted improvements in another critical aspect of the game, mentioning that they ‘have been working hard on their fielding, and it reflected in this game.’ This commitment to all three departments – batting, bowling, and fielding – is a hallmark of strong teams and underscores India’s intent to ‘set standards’ with both bat and ball.

Sri Lanka’s Batting Woes and Lessons to Learn

For Sri Lanka, the innings was a struggle for rhythm. Despite a steady start and valuable contributions from Harshitha Samarawickrama (33) and captain Chamari Athapaththu (31), a steady fall of wickets in the middle and death overs prevented them from posting a challenging total. Captain Athapaththu acknowledged her team’s shortcomings, admitting they ‘had a good Powerplay but struggled through the middle overs’ and praised India for ‘bowling to clear plans.’

She candidly addressed the team’s batting approach, noting they ‘relied too heavily on horizontal-bat shots rather than hitting straight, something they are keen to improve.’ Athapaththu stressed the importance of posting at least 150 to be competitive when batting first and underlined the need to ‘improve how they approach both the middle and death overs, stressing that while rotating strike is important, hitting boundaries consistently is crucial.’ These are vital areas for improvement if Sri Lanka hopes to challenge the dominant Indian side in the remaining matches.

Their bowlers also found themselves under immense pressure with a modest total to defend. The pacers struggled with control, leaking too many extras, which further eased India’s chase. While Kavisha Dilhari, Kawya Kavindi, and Malki Madara each managed to pick up a wicket, the overall bowling effort was insufficient against the onslaught of Shafali Verma and her teammates.

Harmanpreet Kaur’s Leadership Milestone

This victory was not just another win; it marked a significant milestone for India’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur. It was her 76th WT20I win as captain, drawing her level with Australia’s legendary Meg Lanning as the joint-most successful captain in the format. This statistic speaks volumes about her consistent leadership, strategic acumen, and the team’s sustained success under her guidance. Her statement that ‘the group has a very positive mindset’ perfectly encapsulates the current atmosphere within the Indian camp.

The Road Ahead: Boxing Day Clash Looms

With a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, India Women will be keen to carry this momentum forward and wrap up the series in the next game. The focus now shifts to the highly anticipated ‘Boxing Day’ clash for the third T20I, which will be played at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 pm IST (1.30 pm GMT) on December 26, 2025.

For Sri Lanka, this upcoming match is a do-or-die encounter. They will be desperate to stay alive in the contest and will need a significant turnaround in all departments – particularly in their batting approach and bowling discipline – to pose a serious threat to this strong Indian side. India, on the other hand, will be looking to maintain their dominant run and seal the series with another clinical performance.

This series continues to highlight the growing strength and depth of women’s cricket, with India setting high standards for performance and tactical execution. The coming matches promise more exciting action as Sri Lanka battles for survival against an in-form Indian unit.

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