India reach new highs in build-up towards 2026 T20 World Cup
A power-packed batting display helped India go 4-0 up in the five match T20I series against Sri Lanka.
India posted their highest-ever total in Women’s T20Is en route to a fourth consecutive win against Sri Lanka in the ongoing T20I series.
The hosts amassed a mammoth 221/2 to surpass their previous best of 217/4 against the West Indies dating back to 2024.
The total came on the back of a prolific opening stand between Smriti Mandhana (80) and Shafali Verma (79).
The duo added 162 runs for the first wicket partnership - the highest-ever stand for India (any wicket) in the format.
Highest totals from India in Women's T20Is
| Total | Opposition | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 221/2 | Sri Lanka | 2025 |
| 217/4 | West Indies | 2024 |
| 210/5 | England | 2025 |
| 201/5 | UAE | 2024 |
| 198/4 | England | 2018 |
In doing so, the pair surpassed their own previous best from back in 2019 - 143 against the West Indies.
Mandhana also became only the second Indian after Mithali Raj to score 10000 international runs across formats.
Doing so in her 280th appearance for India, she surpassed Raj, Suzie Bates and Charlotte Edwards to become the fastest in women's cricket history to achieve the feat.
Also contributing to India’s tally, Richa Ghosh (40*) and* Harmanpreet Kaur (16) played unbeaten cameos to help the team propel to a record total.
Defending the big total, the hosts were given a tough competition from Sri Lanka, who ended up with 191 runs in the bag, falling short in the chase by 30 runs.
"After playing a lot of ODI cricket this year, it was tough to get into T20 cricket. It was mentally a little different. Happy that I contributed better today," Smriti Mandhana said afterwards.
The left-handed opener, who was deemed the player of the match, also lended an insight into the team environment.
"In the last one year, there is a different kind of team building, everyone is celebrating everyone's success," she said.
Both the teams have been putting in the hard yards as part of their build-up to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England and Wales.
The tournament kickstarting June 12 will see India begin their campaign against Pakistan on June 14. Meanwhile Sri Lanka will play the defending champions New Zealand on June 16.
India and Sri Lanka will next square off in the fifth and final T20I on December 30 in Thiruvananthapuram.
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Series schedule:
First T20I: December 21, Visakhapatnam (India won by eight wickets)
Second T20I: December 23, Visakhapatnam (India won by seven wickets)
Third T20I: December 26, Thiruvananthapuram (India won by eight wickets)
Fourth T20I: December 28, Thiruvananthapuram (India won by 30 runs)
Fifth T20I: December 30, Thiruvananthapuram