As the cricketing world shifts its focus toward the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be hosted in England and Wales, the Indian women’s team has sent a definitive message to their global rivals. In a record-breaking performance during their ongoing home series against Sri Lanka, India has reached new heights, proving that their preparations are not just on track, but reaching a crescendo of historic proportions.
A Historic Night in Thiruvananthapuram
On December 28, 2025, during the fourth T20I of a five-match series, India produced a batting masterclass that rewrote the record books. Amassing a mammoth 221/2, the hosts recorded their highest-ever total in Women’s T20 International history. This feat eclipsed their previous best of 217/4 set against the West Indies in 2024.
The record-breaking total was built on the foundation of a relentless opening partnership between the “Twin Pillars” of Indian batting: Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. The duo put on a staggering 162-run stand for the first wicket—the highest partnership for any wicket for India in the T20I format. In the process, they surpassed their own previous record of 143 runs established back in 2019.
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Individual Milestones: Smriti Mandhana’s Legend Grows
While the team celebrated collective success, the match also served as a stage for individual greatness. Smriti Mandhana, who anchored the innings with a sublime 80, achieved a career-defining milestone by becoming only the second Indian woman, after the legendary Mithali Raj, to score 10,000 international runs across all formats.
Mandhana’s achievement is even more remarkable for its speed. Reaching the five-figure mark in her 280th appearance, she became the fastest woman in cricket history to reach 10,000 runs, surpassing icons like Mithali Raj, New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, and England’s Charlotte Edwards. Despite the pressure of the milestone and the transition from ODI to T20 cricket, Mandhana emphasized that her focus remained on the team’s success, stating, “After playing a lot of ODI cricket this year, it was tough to get into T20 cricket… Happy that I contributed better today.”
Explosive Finishing and Bowling Depth
The platform laid by Mandhana (80) and Shafali Verma (79) was exploited perfectly by the middle order. Richa Ghosh continued her reputation as a premier finisher with a blistering 40* off just a few deliveries, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur added a quickfire 16* to propel the score past the 220-mark.
Defending such a total was never going to be easy against a spirited Sri Lankan side. The visitors fought valiantly, scoring 191 runs—a total that would have won most matches—but ultimately fell 30 runs short. This victory gave India a 4-0 lead in the series, showcasing their dominance in both departments.
Building Culture and Looking Toward 2026
Beyond the statistics, there is a tangible shift in the team’s psychological approach. Mandhana highlighted a “different kind of team building” over the past year, where the squad has focused on collective joy and celebrating each other’s successes. This cultural evolution is a key component of their build-up to the 2026 World Cup.
The roadmap to the World Cup is now clearly defined. The tournament is scheduled to begin on June 12, 2026, in England and Wales. India will launch their campaign with a high-stakes encounter against arch-rivals Pakistan on June 14. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will face the defending champions, New Zealand, on June 16.
The Road Ahead
With the final T20I of the current series scheduled for December 30 in Thiruvananthapuram, India looks poised for a clean sweep. The series has served as a perfect litmus test, revealing a team that is not only deep in talent but also record-breaking in its ambition.
As India continues to refine its combinations, the message from this series is clear: the Women in Blue are no longer just contenders; they are a powerhouse reaching their peak at exactly the right time. For fans and rivals alike, India’s recent “new highs” suggest that the 2026 T20 World Cup could very well be the stage where they finally claim the ultimate prize.
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