Rodrigues hits unbeaten half-century guiding hosts to comfortable victory
Visakhapatnam: returning to the field 50 days after their ODI World Cup triumph, the 'Women in Blue' showed no signs of slowing down. In the first T20I at Visakhapatnam, India secured a commanding eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka on Sunday, taking an early lead in the series.
Chasing a modest target, India reached 122 for 2 with 32 balls remaining. The star of the show was Jemimah Rodrigues, who played a flawless knock to guide her team home. Playing her 100th T20I innings, Rodrigues smashed an unbeaten 69 off just 44 balls. Her innings silenced any doubts regarding the No. 3 spot, proving she is a vital cog in the batting lineup.
Earlier in the evening, India’s bowlers set the tone. Opting to bowl first, captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s decision paid off as the dew factor later made batting easier for the hosts. Debutant pacer Kranti Gaud made an immediate impact. after being hit for boundaries early on, Gaud adjusted her line to clean bowl Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu, claiming her maiden international wicket.
While the Indian fielders had a few slip-ups, dropping catches of Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama, the bowlers remained disciplined. The spin attack squeezed the scoring rate in the middle overs. Sri Lanka struggled to find momentum and finished with 121 for 6. Gunaratne was the top scorer for the visitors with a slow 39.
During the chase, opener Shafali Verma started with aggressive boundaries but fell early. This brought Smriti Mandhana and Rodrigues together. Mandhana, despite struggling for timing initially, reached a major milestone by crossing 4000 T20I runs during her knock of 25.
Once Mandhana departed, Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur finished the job clinically. Rodrigues used the crease well to maneuver the field, ensuring the India Women vs Sri Lanka Women contest ended in a one-sided affair.
This win marks a positive start to India's preparations for the T20 World Cup 2026. The teams will meet again at the same venue on Tuesday for the second match.
