Indian women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur stated on Tuesday that the shift from the 50-over format to T20 Internationals posed a significant challenge. However, she emphasized that the comprehensive 5-0 series whitewash against Sri Lanka has injected fresh motivation into the squad to elevate their game ahead of next year's ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
A Dominant Start to the New Cycle
This five-match T20I series marked India's first competitive assignment since their historic ODI World Cup triumph in November. The clean sweep against Sri Lanka served as a powerful statement, underlining the team's dominance and adaptability across the white-ball formats. The hosts sealed the series with a 15-run victory in the fifth and final match, showcasing nerves of steel even when the visitors applied pressure at various stages.
"2025 has been great for us. All the hard work we have done, this year we have got the credit. Now, it’s about repeating these habits. Going forward, we want to look at this series and think of what we can do ahead," Harmanpreet Kaur remarked during the post-match presentation ceremony.
Focus on Raising Standards and Strike Rates
The 36-year-old skipper admitted that transitioning from ODIs was not straightforward but credited the team's collective excitement for the successful outcome. "Shifting to T20 from ODI wasn't easy but everyone was excited to play. We fought for this and were happy how all things came together," she said.
Looking ahead, Kaur identified the upcoming Women's Premier League (WPL) and the next six months as crucial for the team's development. She revealed that a key focus area in team discussions, led by head coach Amol Muzumdar, has been on improving batting strike rates. "Sir spoke about strike rates and lifting the standards. Everyone was happy and we wanted to set that standard," Kaur explained, expressing confidence in the team's ability to implement these plans given their extensive experience playing T20 cricket together.
Player of the Series Shafali Verma Revels in T20 Format
Opener Shafali Verma, who was adjudged the Player of the Series for her three consecutive blistering half-centuries, said her consistent hard work throughout the year is paying off. Despite a low score of 5 in the final match, she vowed to learn from the mistake and return stronger.
Verma also reiterated her strong preference for the shortest format of the game. "Both are different games. In ODI you have to play along the ground. T20 is my favourite, day by day I am improving and I will become a better player for the team," the young batting prodigy noted.
Sri Lanka's Captain Admits Need for Improvement
Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu conceded that her team failed to produce its best cricket during the series. She pointed out areas requiring immediate attention, particularly power-hitting and overall batting performance, while acknowledging that some younger players had seized their opportunities.
"We are not playing our best cricket... We gave India a fight but unfortunately we lost," Athapaththu reflected. Looking towards the T20 World Cup, she admitted the team, including the senior players, has much to ponder and improve upon to compete at the highest level.
The emphatic series victory provides a robust foundation for the Indian women's team as they embark on a critical phase of preparation, with the WPL and other bilateral contests serving as key platforms to fine-tune their strategy and raise the bar for the global tournament next year.
