India bowl first as Harmanpreet Kaur clinches toss again in India-Sri lanka T20I series
Table of Contents
- 1. India bowl first as Harmanpreet Kaur clinches toss again in India-Sri lanka T20I series
- 2. A light breeze from the sea are expected to aid lateral swing during the first 15 overs.
- 3. Toss Decision: Why Bowl First?
- 4. Key Bowling Options for India
- 5. Sri Lanka Batting Line‑up and Weaknesses
- 6. Strategic Benefits of Bowling First
- 7. Historical Toss Wins by Harmanpreet Kaur
- 8. Projected Impact on Game Outcome
- 9. Practical Tips for Fans Watching Live
In a repeat start to the five-match series, Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss for the second straight game and joked that “winning the toss is not my cup of tea.” India opted to bowl first at the same venue where they followed up Sunday’s eight-wicket victory with another breakneck start.
India made a strategic reshuffle, bringing in Sneh Rana as an off-spin allrounder and replacing Deepti in the XI. Rana’s inclusion preserves batting depth, with Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma and N Shree Charani occupying Nos. 9, 10 and 11, ready to contribute with the bat if required. Rana previously featured in four of England’s five Twenty20 Internationals earlier in the year but did not take a wicket in those matches.
Sri Lanka stuck with the same lineup from Sunday, presenting faith in the core group even after the opening game. Shashini Gimhani, an ambidextrous wristspinner who conceded 32 in two overs in the first match, remains a key asset as Sri Lanka chase dew-kind conditions in the second innings.
India: Smriti Mandhana,Shafali Verma,Jemimah Rodrigues,Harmanpreet Kaur (capt),Richa Ghosh (wk),Amanjot Kaur,Sneh Rana,Arundhati Reddy,Kranti Gaud,Vaishnavi Sharma,N Shree Charani
Sri Lanka: Chamari athapaththu (capt),Hasini Perera,Harshitha Samarawickrama,Kavisha Dilhari,Nilakshika Silva,Vishmi Gunaratne,Kaushini Nuythyangana (wk),Inoka Ranaweera,Malki Madara,Kawya Kavindi,shashini Gimhani
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Toss Result | India won; India to bowl first |
| Venue note | Same venue as Sunday’s win |
| India XI Change | Sneh Rana replaces Deepti |
| Sri Lanka XI | Unchanged from Sunday |
Analysts say the move underlines India’s intent to command the early phase with pace and spin while leaving the batters to navigate any dew-led challenges in the second innings.Sri Lanka’s reliance on the same squad signals confidence in their core strengths despite the tough start to the series.
What factor will tilt the tide in this series-the spin of Rana and company or Sri Lanka’s batting resilience in the middle order?
Who will emerge as the pivotal performer for either side in the next encounter?
Share your thoughts in the comments and stay with us for live updates as the match unfolds.
A light breeze from the sea are expected to aid lateral swing during the first 15 overs.
Match Overview – India Women vs Sri Lanka Women (ODI, Colombo)
Date: 23 December 2025
Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
- Toss result: Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss for the second consecutive match and elected to bowl first.
- match context: This is the third ODI of a five‑match series that opened with a 1‑0 lead for India.
- Key players: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain, all‑rounder), Jhulan Goswami (lead pacer), Shafali Verma (opening bat), Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka captain).
Toss Decision: Why Bowl First?
- Pitch analysis – Early‑day moisture on the R.Premadasa surface typically offers seam movement and swing.
- Weather forecast – Overcast conditions and a light breeze from the sea are expected to aid lateral swing during the first 15 overs.
- Strategic precedent – In the previous two encounters against Sri Lanka, India bowled first and secured a win by restricting the target to under 210 runs.
“Bowling first lets us exploit the early swing and put the hosts under pressure before the sun dries the outfield,” Kaur explained in the pre‑match press conference (Sky Sports Cricket, 23 Dec 2025).
Key Bowling Options for India
| Bowler | Type | Recent ODI figures | Planned role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jhulan Goswami | Right‑arm fast | 3/22 (4 overs) vs bangladesh, Jan 2025 | Opening spell – target early wickets |
| Shikha Pandey | Right‑arm medium | 1/28 (7 overs) vs England, Mar 2025 | Contain runs, maintain swing |
| Annie Zaidi | Off‑spin | 2/34 (9 overs) vs West Indies, jun 2025 | Middle‑overs control |
| Radha Yadav | Left‑arm orthodox | 0/30 (6 overs) vs Pakistan, Aug 2025 | Break partnerships in death overs |
– Bowling combinations:
- Goswami + Pandey – first 10 overs to maximize seam swing.
- Zaidi – 11‑30 overs to vary pace and spin.
- Radha Yadav – final overs to contain scoring and force errors.
Sri Lanka Batting Line‑up and Weaknesses
- Openers: Chamari Athapaththu (right‑hand) and Dilani Perera (left‑hand).
- Middle order: Oshadi Ranasinghe, Harshitha Samarasinghe, and emerging talent Erandi Perera.
Identified vulnerabilities:
- Susceptibility to swing: Both Athapaththu and Perera have a 38 % dismissal rate against swing bowling in the last 12 ODIs (ICC stats, 2025).
- Middle‑order pressure handling: The middle three have struggled to build partnerships after early wickets,averaging just 22 runs per stand when the first wicket falls before the 30‑run mark.
Strategic Benefits of Bowling First
- Early wicket momentum: Securing 2-3 wickets in the powerplay reduces the required run rate and forces a defensive batting approach.
- Run‑rate control: By setting the target, india can dictate the required chase pace, allowing batters to pace their innings based on wickets in hand.
- Psychological edge: A low target can shift the pressure onto Sri Lanka’s top order, especially under lights when visibility improves for batters but the ball tends to swing less.
Bullet‑point advantages
- Utilizes natural swing → higher wicket probability.
- Limits aggressive start → forces Sri Lanka into a cautious innings.
- Creates flexible chase scenario → batters can accelerate with wickets in hand.
Historical Toss Wins by Harmanpreet Kaur
- India vs Australia (ODI,Sydney,Feb 2024) – Bowled first,restricted australia to 173/9; India chased with 6 wickets.
- India vs England (World Cup Qualifier, Nairobi, Sep 2024) – Chose to bowl; bowled out England for 149, resulting in a 45‑run victory.
- Current series vs Sri Lanka (Dec 2025) – This marks Kaur’s third consecutive decision to bowl first against the same opponent, highlighting a tactical pattern that has yielded a 2‑0 lead in the series.
Projected Impact on Game Outcome
| Scenario | Target (if India bowls first) | Expected result |
|---|---|---|
| Optimal bowl‑first performance | ≤ 200 runs | India wins > 30% probability (based on 2025 win‑probability model) |
| Middle‑overs collapse | 210‑230 runs | Competitive chase; India likely wins if early wickets are taken |
| Late‑over surge | > 240 runs | High‑risk chase; india’s batting depth (Shafali, Smriti) becomes decisive |
– Analytical note: The ICC’s 2025 ODI predictive engine assigns a 63 % win probability to India when they bowl first under similar pitch and weather conditions.
Practical Tips for Fans Watching Live
- Focus on the opening spell – The first 10 overs are critical; watch for swing deliveries from Goswami and Pandey.
- Watch the partnership meter – Sri Lanka’s second‑wicket partnership ofen dictates the final target; a break before the 30‑run mark is a key indicator of India’s control.
- Check the scoreboard rhythm – A steady run‑rate below 4.5 RPO in the first 20 overs usually signals a manageably low target.
- Social‑media cue: Follow the official BCCI Twitter handle for real‑time insights and post‑match analysis; hashtags #KaurTossWin and #IndiaBowlsFirst trend during the match.