The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made an exciting announcement on Friday, revealing that the Indian women's cricket team will host Sri Lanka for a five-match T20 International series this December. This series marks the team's first international engagement since their spectacular victory in the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup last month.
Series Schedule and Venues
The five T20 International matches will be played across two prominent cricket venues in India - Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram. The action begins in Visakhapatnam with the first match scheduled for December 21, followed by the second game at the same venue on December 23. The teams will then move to Thiruvananthapuram for the remaining three fixtures on December 26, 28, and 30.
The complete schedule is as follows:
- 1st T20I – December 21, Visakhapatnam
- 2nd T20I – December 23, Visakhapatnam
- 3rd T20I – December 26, Thiruvananthapuram
- 4th T20I – December 28, Thiruvananthapuram
- 5th T20I – December 30, Thiruvananthapuram
Background and Significance
This series came about after India's originally planned December fixtures against Bangladesh were postponed due to ongoing political tensions between the two neighboring countries. The BCCI moved quickly to fill the important gap in the calendar, ensuring that captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her World Cup-winning squad get valuable playing time before crucial upcoming engagements.
The selection of venues holds particular significance. Visakhapatnam recently hosted India's matches against South Africa and Australia during the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup, attracting strong crowds and proving to offer ideal conditions for white-ball cricket. The return of top-tier women's international cricket to both Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram is expected to further boost public interest following India's historic World Cup triumph.
Strategic Importance for Both Teams
For the Indian team, this series serves multiple purposes. It provides essential preparation and offers an opportunity to test squad depth following the emotional high of their World Cup campaign. The matches will help the team build momentum before the Women's Premier League (WPL) and the high-profile tour of Australia scheduled for early next year.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will approach the series as an opportunity to challenge the newly crowned world champions and build their own momentum ahead of what promises to be a busy 2026 season. The visitors will be eager to make their mark against the world's best team in what promises to be an exciting contest between the neighboring cricketing nations.
The series represents another step forward for women's cricket in India, capitalizing on the massive popularity surge following their World Cup victory and providing fans with more opportunities to watch their heroes in action on home soil.
