Fresh from a commanding eight-wicket victory, the Indian women's cricket team is setting its sights on elevating its fielding performance as it prepares to face Sri Lanka in the second Women's T20 International (WT20I) in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. The match marks India's second outing since their historic World Cup triumph last month.
Fielding Takes Center Stage After Opening Win
Despite a comprehensive win in the series opener at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on December 21, captain Harmanpreet Kaur pinpointed fielding, particularly catching, as a key area for immediate improvement. While the bowlers successfully restricted Sri Lanka to 121 for 6, several dropped chances marred an otherwise dominant display.
"We are working on our fielding. Don't know why we keep dropping catches. It is wet out here, but it is not an excuse. That is something we really need to think about. In the next match, we will come about with a better approach," Kaur stated in the post-match presentation. The team, enjoying a six-week break post-World Cup, had a short preparatory camp in Bengaluru, and the skipper acknowledged some expected rustiness.
Positives and Players in Focus
The batting and bowling departments required minimal effort in the first game. Jemimah Rodrigues, in sublime form, picked up right where she left off in the World Cup, effortlessly targeting Sri Lanka's left-arm wrist spinner Shashini Gimhani. A significant positive was the economical spell from 20-year-old left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma, who conceded just 16 runs without a boundary, despite going wicketless.
For explosive opener Shafali Verma, this series is crucial to finding consistency in her preferred T20 format. The Indian batting lineup, featuring Rodrigues, Kaur, and Deepti Sharma, will hope for a sterner test from the Chamari Athapaththu-led Sri Lankan side as they build towards a challenging tour of Australia after the Women's Premier League.
Looking Ahead to Consolidate the Lead
With a 1-0 lead in the series, India are firm favourites on paper. However, the focus is firmly on process and refinement. Harmanpreet Kaur emphasized a measured approach, saying, "We are playing after a month. We don't want to unnecessarily challenge ourselves. We just want to do well for the team." The second WT20I offers the perfect opportunity for the world champions to iron out flaws and raise their fielding standards before sealing the series.
