Amid turbulent personal times, Smriti Mandhana has commenced preparations for the 5-match T20I series against Sri Lanka Women. The Indian women’s cricket team’s vice-captain was supposed to marry Indian music composer Palash Muchhal on December 7. However, yesterday, on the day of, she announced that the nuptials had been called off.
Smriti Mandhana returns to cricket
During these testing times, Mandhana has decided not to let her focus drift away from cricket. In what was one of the best moments of her life, Madhana was to get married days after India women won their maiden ICC trophy, the 2025 ODI Women’s World Cup. But that’s turned into a moment of personal grief.
The series has perhaps come at the right time for Mandhana. It’ll help take her mind off personal issues and shift her focus to cricket. Not long after the India vs Sri Lanka series ends, the 2026 edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) will commence, and she’ll get back to leading the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Women.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) hasn’t yet announced the squad for the series beginning December 21.
India Women vs Sri Lanka Women T20I series schedule
| Match | Date | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st T20I | December 21 | ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam | 7:00 PM |
| 2nd T20I | December 23 | ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam | 7:00 PM |
| 3rd T20I | December 26 | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram | 7:00 PM |
| 4th T20I | December 28 | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram | 7:00 PM |
| 5th T20I | December 30 | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram | 7:00 PM |
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