Smriti Mandhana to Play vs Sri Lanka? Latest After Her Marriage Postponed

The IND-W vs SL-W T20 series for 2025 is set to feature five matches, beginning on 21 December. The first two games will be played at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on 21 and 23 December. The teams will then move to the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, where the final three encounters are scheduled for 26, 28, and 30 December.

This tour marks India’s return to international cricket following their landmark victory at the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup. Originally, Bangladesh was supposed to visit India during this window, but the series had to be pushed back due to political circumstances, allowing Sri Lanka to step in as replacements.

The series holds significant importance as both sides begin their preparations for the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. India is expected to use these matches to test new combinations and give some game time to the bench, while Sri Lanka will aim to challenge a strong Indian lineup packed with some of the best women cricketers. It will be interesting to know about Smriti Mandhana availability for the series after a tough period in her personal life due to her marriage postponement with Palash Muchhal.

Smriti Mandhana IND vs SL T20 Series Availability in Doubt?

Indian women’s cricket team’s star opener Smriti Mandhana is going through turmoil in her personal life. After becoming champions in the Women’s ODI World Cup, Mandhana was set to marry her fiancé, Palash Muchhal. However, despite all the wedding preparations being completed, the ceremony has been postponed indefinitely. The reason behind the postponement is not officially disclosed, but there were rumours of Palash Muchhal’s being in an alleged affair. Amid this personal turmoil, a new challenge has now emerged for Mandhana.

The schedule for India’s five-match T20 series against Sri Lanka, to be played from 21 to 30 December, has been announced. This raises the question of whether Mandhana will be available for Team India during such a difficult phase. As a senior player, this is an especially tough time for her. However, for now, only the schedule has been released, and the squad is yet to be announced. So, there is no confirmation as of now regarding Smriti Mandhana availability for the T20I series against Sri Lanka Women.

Know All About India Women vs Sri Lanka Women T20 Series 2025

The Sri Lanka Women's tour also marks their first T20I bilateral series in India since 2016, when the hosts claimed a 3–0 victory. Once this series wraps up, the focus will shift to the fourth edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). After the WPL concludes, the Indian women’s team will gear up for a multi-format tour of Australia in February–March 2026.

The IND W vs SL W tour features a five-match T20I series spread across two venues. The series will begin on 21st December 2025 at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, one of the most beautiful cricket stadiums in the world. Visakhapatnam has previously hosted international women’s matches, including games in the recent World Cup, while Thiruvananthapuram will host senior-level women’s international cricket for the first time.

The squads for the upcoming T20I series in December have not been announced yet. For India, the selectors are expected to stick with the trusted group that played a major role in the team’s 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup victory.

The batting lineup will likely be handled by experienced names such as Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana, while versatile all-rounders like Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana could provide balance in the middle. In the bowling department, India may once again turn to Renuka Singh Thakur, with Arundhati Reddy and Sree Charani adding more depth to the attack.

As for Sri Lanka, their squad will almost certainly be built around their powerhouse skipper Chamari Athapaththu. She is expected to receive key support from reliable performers like Harshitha Samarawickrama as they look to challenge the strong Indian side.