Sri Lanka announce T20I squad for India series, include ambidextrous spinner in 15-member pack

Sri Lanka women's team has announced their 15-member squad for the five-match T20I series against India, which is set to start from December 21. The selections include several exciting prospects, such as the 17-year-old ambidextrous spinner Shashini Gimhani, the 23-year-old seamer Kawya Kavindi, and the 19-year-old player Rashmika Sewwandi. This youth movement is part of a broader strategy to blood younger players as the team commences its build-up toward the T20 World Cup scheduled for next year in England.

Sri Lanka's T20I squad for India series revealed

Leading this mix of youth is captain Chamari Athapaththu, who will also rely on some experienced hands. The squad includes the veteran 39-year-old spinner Inoka Ranaweera, alongside a top order that has now garnered significant exposure at the highest level of the game. However, in prioritizing young talent, the selection committee made some difficult omissions. Notably, the squad does not feature wicketkeeper-batter Anushka Sanjeewani (35), who has 86 T20I caps, nor veteran players Udeshika Prabodhani (39), Sugandika Kumari (33), or Achini Kulasuriya (34). These four players had all been part of the team's most recent T20I assignment during the tour of New Zealand in March of this year.

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Shashini Gimhani makes surprise entry

The inclusion of Shashini Gimhani is particularly noteworthy, as she is considered one of Sri Lanka's most exciting young talents. She possesses the rare ability to deliver wrist-spin with either arm, although left-arm wrist-spin is her primary bowling style. Gimhani earned her spot following solid performances against the Australia Under-19 team in September. Furthermore, she has already made a promising start to her senior international T20I career, having impressively taken six wickets from five matches at the top level, maintaining an excellent economy rate of 5.53.

The young seamers brought into the Sri Lankan squad are not without experience. Kawya Kavindi, a 23-year-old seamer, has already accumulated 10 T20 International appearances. Her fellow young seamer, Rashmika Sewwandi, has one T20I cap, although she did not get an opportunity to bowl in that match. Rounding out the new bowling faces is the 26-year-old left-arm spinner, Nimasha Madushani, who is currently uncapped at the international level.

The squad also includes Malki Madara, a 24-year-old seamer who has shown impressive form with the ball in ODIs this year. Adding versatility is Malsha Shehani, who earned a place due to her ability to contribute with both seam and spin bowling. This five-match T20I series is scheduled to commence in Visakhapatnam on December 21, before the teams move to Thiruvananthapuram for the final two games of the series.

Sri Lanka's T20I squad for India series:

Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshika De Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Imesha Dulani, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Malsha Shehani, Inoka Ranaweera, Shashini Gimhani, Nimesha Madushani, Kawya Kavindi, Rashmika Sewwandi, Malki Madara

India's T20I squad for Sri Lanka series:

Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Richa Ghosh (wk), G Kamalini (wk), N Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma.