.svg)
Key Takeaways
- 1📊 India's 221/2 highest Women's T20I total, beating 217/4 vs WI
- 2🏆 Mandhana (80) & Verma (79) forge record 162-run opening stand
- 3💡 Power-hitting strike rates over 180 signal World Cup readiness
- 4🔮 Australia series next as dress rehearsal for England T20 WC Group A
- 5💬 'Hard to stop India in English conditions' – Irfan Pathan
"A power-packed batting display helped India go 4-0 up in the five match T20I series against Sri Lanka. "
India women's cricket team scripted history by posting their highest-ever T20I total of 221/2 against Sri Lanka in the 4th T20I, surging 4-0 ahead in the five-match series. This explosive display, powered by Smriti Mandhana's 80 and Shafali Verma's 79, featured a record-breaking 162-run opening stand – the highest for India in any wicket in Women's T20Is. Coming off their maiden ICC Women's ODI World Cup triumph in 2025, this performance signals India's ruthless intent ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup in England. The 221 eclipsed their previous best of 217/4 against West Indies in 2024, underscoring a power-packed evolution in their batting.
This series whitewash – now 4-0 with one to play – builds on India's dominant 5-0 ODI sweep earlier, blending World Cup heroes like Harmanpreet Kaur with emerging talents. Mandhana and Verma, key to the ODI success, have aggregated over 300 runs together in recent T20Is at a strike rate exceeding 160. Historically, such totals are rare in women's cricket; only a handful of teams have crossed 200 before. For India, riding high post their first ICC trophy, this is perfect momentum, blending white-ball mastery with T20 aggression as they eye Group A rivals like Australia and Pakistan.
Record-Breaking Opening Assault
The 162-run stand between Mandhana and Verma demolished records, surpassing India's prior best first-wicket partnership of 118. Mandhana's 80 off 45 balls (strike rate 177) included 10 fours and 3 sixes, while Verma's 79 off 39 (strike rate 202) featured 12 fours and 3 sixes – a clinic in power-hitting. Compare this to England's 199/3 vs India in 2025; India's 221/2 now tops the charts. Technically, their footwork against spin on a turning track highlighted superior game awareness, a tactic honed during the World Cup run-chase masterclasses.
T20 World Cup Momentum Builder
This 4-0 lead seals series dominance, with India's batting average soaring past 50 in the rubber. It mirrors their 3-2 England T20I win in 2025, but with amplified firepower. Implications ripple to WPL 2026 (Jan-Feb), offering match practice before February's Australia multi-format tour – a dress rehearsal for World Cup conditions. Shafali Verma's series form positions her as a opener lock, challenging Quinton de Kock-like consistency debates in men's cricket.
Path to England Glory
Next, India faces Australia (Feb 15-Mar 9) and England (May) before the June T20 World Cup opener vs Pakistan in Birmingham. With WPL providing backups amid injuries, Irfan Pathan backs their 'improved power game' for adaptation. Fans must watch: can this batting juggernaut conquer English seamers?
"The power game of our women's players has also improved... Once we adapt to English conditions, it would be hard to stop India." – Irfan Pathan, JioHotstar
Related Stories
