The Indian women's cricket team is set to make a highly anticipated return to the field after a one-month break. They will face Sri Lanka in the first match of a five-match T20 International series on Sunday, marking the start of their preparations for next year's T20 World Cup.
Captain's Eagerness and Post-World Cup Mindset
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur revealed the team's collective impatience to get back into action. She acknowledged the hectic schedule following their historic ODI World Cup win but welcomed it, stating she desires such busy calendars after major tournaments.
"We have been waiting for a month to go on the field because, at the end of the day, we enjoy ourselves on the field," Harmanpreet said, highlighting the team's passion for playing. She emphasized that the World Cup victory has brought a new sense of peace and satisfaction to the squad. The team now carries the feeling of being world champions, a stark contrast to previous campaigns filled with hopeful anticipation.
New Faces and T20 World Cup Roadmap
This series serves as a crucial building block for the T20 World Cup, which is just six months away. Harmanpreet stressed the importance of the upcoming matches, noting it is the perfect time to integrate new players and solidify the team's strategy.
"From tomorrow it's going to start and with some new players in the team, it's the right time to give them a fair chance to understand how we have to go in the next World Cup," the captain explained. The focus will be on playing with a free mindset and continuing the aggressive brand of T20 cricket India has cultivated in recent years.
The selectors have infused fresh talent into the squad, rewarding impressive performances. Wicket-keeper G. Kamalini and all-rounder Vaishnavi Sharma have received their maiden senior call-ups. Both were integral members of India's triumphant Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup team and have also showcased their skills in the Women's Premier League (WPL).
Squad Details and How to Watch
The Indian squad for the series is led by Harmanpreet Kaur, with Smriti Mandhana as her deputy. The team blends experienced campaigners with exciting newcomers. India's last T20I assignment was a closely fought away series against England in June-July, which they won 3-2.
Fans in India can catch all the live action of the India women vs Sri Lanka women T20I series on the Star Sports Network television channels. The matches will also be live-streamed digitally on the JioCinema app and website.
This series marks the beginning of a vital phase for the Women in Blue as they aim to carry their ODI World Cup momentum into the shortest format and build a winning unit for the global T20 event ahead.
