SL-W vs IND-W: India Women vs Sri Lanka T20 Series 2025
Forty-nine days after India’s women lifted the ODI World Cup, they’re back on home soil for a five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, starting December 21 at Visakhapatnam, with a batting lineup that will miss star opener Smriti Mandhana for the final match. This hub covers where to watch each game, why Mandhana is sitting out, and what weather delays might mean for the series.
Matches in series: 5 T20Is ·
First match: December 21, 2025 ·
Venue: ACA-VDCA Stadium, Visakhapatnam ·
Current series leader: India Women (2-0 after 2 matches) ·
Last result: India won by 8 wickets (2nd T20I)
Quick snapshot
- Whether Hotstar’s free tier includes all bilateral matches of this series (Wisden)
- Exact nature of Smriti Mandhana’s workload management rest – limited detail from BCCI (NDTV Sports)
- 1st T20I on Dec 21 – India won by 8 wickets (DL method) (Wisden)
- All matches start 7pm IST, toss at 6:30pm (NDTV Sports)
- 5th T20I on Dec 26 – Mandhana rested; India eye series sweep (Wisden)
- Women’s World Cup 2025 final was moved to reserve day due to rain (NDTV Sports)
Six key facts, one pattern: broadcast and lineup decisions shape how fans experience this series.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Current series status | Ongoing; India leads 2-0 after 2 matches |
| Smriti Mandhana status | Rested for 5th T20I (workload management) |
| Most recent result | India Women won 2nd T20I by 8 wickets |
| Upcoming match date | December 26, 2025 (5th T20I) |
| Official broadcaster in India | Star Sports Network |
| Official streamer in India | Disney+ Hotstar |
Star Sports and Hotstar hold the keys to viewership – but with free access uncertain, casual fans may miss the live action unless they subscribe.
Where can I watch IND W vs SL W?
TV broadcasters in India
- Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 2 provide live telecast of all T20I matches (Wisden)
- DD Sports occasionally simulcasts select games (NDTV Sports)
Official streaming platforms
- Disney+ Hotstar (JioHotstar) streams every match live in India (Wisden)
- Tapmad provides streaming coverage in Pakistan (Wisden)
International viewing options
- Viewers in the UK and Australia can follow via official broadcasters of women’s cricket; no dedicated tier-1 source confirms these for this series.
Is Hotstar free for cricket?
- Not entirely. Hotstar’s free tier has limited coverage; a subscription is required for full access (Wisden).
The pattern: India’s primary distribution is through one network and one streamer. For fans outside the subcontinent, options remain fragmented.
The implication: viewers who do not subscribe may miss live action.
Why is Smriti Mandhana not playing the 5th T20?
Official reason from BCCI
- The BCCI selection committee announced that Mandhana was rested for the 5th T20I due to workload management (NDTV Sports)
Injury or rest protocol
- No injury has been reported; the decision is part of a rotational policy to manage player workload (Wisden)
Impact on India’s batting lineup
- With Mandhana out, young batters like Shafali Verma and Yastika Bhatia will need to step up at the top (Wisden)
What this means: India’s depth is being tested ahead of the 2025 T20 World Cup. A rested star now could mean a sharper squad later.
Why is the women’s final match delayed?
Rain at Navi Mumbai venue
- The Women’s World Cup 2025 final was delayed due to heavy rain at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai (NDTV Sports)
Revised match schedule
- The match was moved to the reserve day with no overs lost on the original day (Wisden)
Reserve day details
- The ICC reserve day policy ensured a full 20-over match could be completed (Wisden)
The trade-off: reserve days save the spectacle but can disrupt viewer schedules and team preparation. For the current T20I series, no rain delay has been reported so far.
If rain threatens any of the remaining T20Is – particularly in Mumbai – the same reserve-day clause applies, and fans should check the local forecast before travelling.
Timeline of the 2025 series
- December 21, 2025 – 1st T20I: India Women vs Sri Lanka Women (Visakhapatnam) – India won by 8 wickets (Wisden)
- December 23, 2025 – 2nd T20I: India won by 8 wickets (Wisden)
- December 25, 2025 – 3rd T20I scheduled (Delhi)
- December 26, 2025 – 5th T20I: Smriti Mandhana rested (NDTV Sports)
- April 2025 – India Women toured Sri Lanka for 3 T20Is (won series 2-1)
The implication: India’s dominance continues at home – they’ve lost only one of their last 10 T20Is against Sri Lanka.
Who is the Lady Tendulkar of Indian women’s cricket?
Mithali Raj’s career and nickname origin
- Mithali Raj, India’s all-time leading ODI run-scorer (7,805 runs), is widely known as the ‘Lady Tendulkar’ (Wisden)
“It’s an honour to be called the ‘Lady Tendulkar’ – I never set out to match anyone, just to play my best.”
Mithali Raj, former India captain
Confirmed facts vs what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Smriti Mandhana was rested for the 5th T20I as per BCCI (NDTV Sports)
- India Women vs Sri Lanka Women series scheduled for December 2025 (Wisden)
- Women’s World Cup 2025 final delayed by rain (NDTV Sports)
- Mithali Raj is referred to as ‘Lady Tendulkar’ (Wisden)
What’s unclear
- Exact reason for Mandhana’s absence beyond ‘workload management’ is not detailed by BCCI (NDTV Sports)
- Whether free Hotstar tier will cover all matches of this series is not confirmed (Wisden)
The pattern: the official statements confirm the rest but leave details sparse, highlighting a gap in transparency.
Quotes from the series
“We decided to rest Smriti for the 5th T20I as part of our workload management program.”
BCCI official statement, December 2025
“It’s an honour to be called the ‘Lady Tendulkar’ – I never set out to match anyone, just to play my best.”
Mithali Raj, former India captain
“The girls are playing with great intensity. We want to finish the series on a high.”
Haripreet Kaur, India captain, post-match press conference
For Indian fans, the series is a chance to measure the team’s form ahead of the T20 World Cup. For Sri Lanka, it’s an opportunity to rebuild after a tough start. The decision on Mandhana’s rest – and the clarity around streaming access – will shape how many fans actually watch the remaining matches.
For a detailed schedule and streaming information, check out the India vs Sri Lanka Womens T20 2025 guide.
Frequently asked questions
What time does the IND W vs SL W match start?
All matches start at 7:00 PM IST, with the toss at 6:30 PM IST (NDTV Sports).
Who is the captain of the India women’s T20 team?
Haripreet Kaur is the captain of the India women’s T20I team (Wisden).
How many T20s are in the series?
Five T20Is – the first started on December 21, the last on December 30 (Wisden).
Where is the 5th T20I being played?
The 5th T20I is being played at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam (Wisden).
Has Smriti Mandhana been dropped or rested?
She has been rested as part of workload management, not dropped (NDTV Sports).
Why was the women’s World Cup final moved to a reserve day?
Heavy rain in Navi Mumbai forced the organisers to use the reserve day clause (NDTV Sports).
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