A women’s T20 series doesn’t usually grab headlines for rain delays and a missing star batter. But the Sri Lanka Women’s tour of India in December 2025 has done exactly that, with Smriti Mandhana sitting out the final match and heavy rain pushing the finish into uncertainty.

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Series: Sri Lanka Women tour of India 2025 ·
Format: Five T20 Internationals ·
Start Date: December 21, 2025 ·
Venue: ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam ·
Current Status: Ongoing (as of December 2025)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Sri Lanka Women toured India in December 2025 for 5 T20Is (NDTV Sports)
  • India Women lead the series 4-0 (as of Dec 2025) (NDTV Sports)
  • Matches played at ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam (BCCI official site)
2What’s unclear
  • Official reason for Smriti Mandhana’s absence from 5th T20I not confirmed
  • Exact length of rain delay in final match unknown
  • Context of Harmanpreet Kaur handshake incident (which match?) not fully verified
3Timeline signal
  • 1st T20I: Dec 21, 2025, Visakhapatnam
  • 5th T20I: Dec 29, 2025, delayed by rain
  • Series spans 9 days across coastal venues
4What’s next
  • 5th T20I to resume after rain reduction in overs
  • Series result likely India win despite last-match disruptions
  • Mandhana’s fitness for future tours to be monitored
What to watch

India’s dominance in the series (4-0 lead) masks two big unknowns: whether Smriti Mandhana’s absence is precautionary or injury-driven, and how the rain-shortened final match affects Sri Lanka’s chance for a consolation win. The trade-off for viewers: a potentially shortened game, but higher intensity in fewer overs.

The series snapshot shows India in firm control, yet the narrative is being shaped by off-field events.

Detail Value
Tournament Sri Lanka Women tour of India 2025
Format 5 T20Is
First match December 21, 2025
Latest match December 29, 2025 (5th T20I)
Current series result India Women lead 4-0 (as of Dec 2025)
Top scorer (India) Smriti Mandhana (not available for last match) or Jemimah Rodrigues

The pattern here: the strongest statistical performer is absent at the series’ most crucial moment.

Where can I watch IND W vs SL W?

For Indian viewers, finding the right platform to watch the matches is straightforward once you know the options. The official broadcasters and streaming services cover the series across multiple screens.

On which channel is T20 live?

Is Hotstar free for cricket?

Disney+ Hotstar offers live streaming of the series in India. The mobile app provides free access with advertisements for certain matches, making it the most budget-friendly option for individual viewers. For TV-connected viewing, a subscription may be required.

What streaming platforms show the series?

  • Jiostar app and website — provides live streaming for Indian viewers (NDTV Sports)
  • Disney+ Hotstar — free mobile streaming with ads
  • Star Sports — direct-to-home and cable TV channels

Bottom line: Indian viewers have at least three free or low-cost options to watch the series (Jiostar, Hotstar mobile, Star Sports TV). For viewers outside India, check local sports networks; no universal streaming partner was confirmed for international audiences during this series.

The upshot

The broadcast setup for this series is viewer-friendly but fragmented: fans need to toggle between Hotstar (mobile), Star Sports (TV), and BCCI.tv (stats) for complete coverage. For a casual fan in India, the easiest path: open Hotstar on your phone — it’s free and covers every ball.

Why is Smriti Mandhana not playing 5th T20?

The absence of India’s star opener from the 5th T20I, played on December 29, 2025, has been the series’ biggest talking point. Mandhana, who leads the series run-scoring charts for India when she played, sat out the final match with no official reason from the BCCI or team management.

Speculation ranges from rest management to a minor niggle, particularly given India’s unassailable lead (the series stood at 3-0 before the 4th match and reached 4-0 ahead of the final game). But without a statement from the board or the player, the exact cause remains unclear.

The implication: Mandhana’s absence robs the final match of its biggest star attraction for home viewers. For Sri Lanka, it might be a small competitive relief — the batter who scored the most runs against them across the series isn’t at the crease.

Why is the women’s final match delayed?

What caused the delay?

The 5th T20I, scheduled for December 29, 2025, at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, was delayed due to heavy rainfall. Coastal venues in India during December are prone to unseasonal showers — and Navi Mumbai and Visakhapatnam both experienced significant rain during the series.

How long was the delay?

No official duration was published in the available match reports, but play resumed with a reduction in overs. Such reductions typically mean a cut of 5-10 overs per innings, compressing the game into a shorter, higher-intensity format.

The pattern: rain delays are becoming a recurring theme for women’s bilaterals in India during December. For the 2025 series alone, at least two matches were weather-affected. For teams and broadcasters, scheduling matches in the drier morning/afternoon slots could reduce disruption in future tours.

Who is the Lady Tendulkar of Indian women’s cricket team?

Why is Mithali Raj called the Lady Tendulkar?

The comparison has been used for nearly a decade to describe Mithali Raj’s role in women’s cricket: she is the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket across all formats, with an ODI career spanning over two decades. The nickname captures her significance as the face of Indian women’s cricket — much like Sachin Tendulkar was for the men’s game.

Raj retired from all forms of the sport in 2023, but her legacy remains central to any discussion of Indian women’s cricket. When fans search “Lady Tendulkar” during the 2025 series, they’re often young or casual followers discovering Raj’s career for the first time.

What are Mithali Raj’s achievements?

  • Highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket (both ODIs and overall runs)
  • Only woman to score 7 consecutive ODI fifties
  • Led India to two World Cup finals (2005, 2017)
  • Recipient of the Padma Shri and Khel Ratna awards

Wikipedia, public encyclopedia

Why this matters

For a generation of Indian fans who grew up watching Mandhana and Rodrigues, Mithali Raj is a historical figure — not a current player. The “Lady Tendulkar” search spike during the 2025 series reveals a knowledge gap: new fans want context for the benchmarks that defined the team they’re watching now.

Did Harmanpreet Kaur shake hands?

What handshake incident occurred?

In a match against Pakistan, Harmanpreet Kaur reportedly refused a handshake after the game. The incident was widely discussed across social media and cricket news outlets, with commentary ranging from strategic coldness to personal animosity.

Why did Harmanpreet Kaur not shake hands?

No verified reason was provided from Kaur or team management. The context of which match (2025 ODI World Cup or Asia Cup) and the exact circumstances remain unconfirmed in the available sources.

The catch: handshake controversies are a recurring flashpoint in India-Pakistan cricket matches. Without an official statement, any analysis remains speculative. For the 2025 women’s series, this conversation is a side note — but it keeps appearing in search queries during the Sri Lanka tour, probably because of adjacent Asia Cup or World Cup discussions earlier in the year.

Series timeline

  • — 1st T20I: India Women vs Sri Lanka Women at Visakhapatnam
  • — 2nd T20I
  • — 3rd T20I
  • — 4th T20I
  • — 5th T20I (delayed by rain)

NDTV Sports, match schedule dispatches

Related reading: Pakistan vs West Indies Timeline · Zimbabwe vs South Africa Match Scorecard

Additional sources

youtube.com, bcci.tv

For a deeper look at the historical rivalry, check out the India vs Sri Lanka head-to-head records that detail past encounters between the two teams.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the head-to-head record between India Women and Sri Lanka Women in T20Is?

India Women have historically dominated the T20I head-to-head, winning the majority of matches across bilateral series and ICC tournaments. The exact win-loss ratio will be updated after the 2025 series conclusion.

Who is the captain of India Women’s cricket team?

Harmanpreet Kaur is the captain of the Indian Women’s cricket team for the Sri Lanka tour of India 2025 series (NDTV Sports).

How many matches are in the Sri Lanka Women tour of India 2025?

The series consists of five T20 International matches (NDTV Sports).

Where is the series being played?

The primary venue is the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, though the 4th T20I was scheduled in Thiruvananthapuram (NDTV Sports).

Can I watch the matches for free on Hotstar?

Yes, Disney+ Hotstar offers free mobile streaming with advertisements for certain matches in India.

What is the weather forecast for the next match?

Weather updates are available from local meteorological departments closer to match dates. Coastal Venues in December are prone to rain interruptions.

Who scored the most runs in the series so far?

Smriti Mandhana was India’s top run-scorer before missing the 5th T20I. Jemimah Rodrigues has also been among the runs.

For Indian fans, the 2025 women’s T20 series offers a paradox: dominant cricket from the home team, but the two biggest stories — a star batter’s unexplained absence and weather interruptions — have nothing to do with the on-field result. The BCCI and team management face a clear choice: provide clear communication on player availability and consider November/February scheduling for coastal venues, or risk letting the weather and speculation overshadow the actual cricket for the next tour.