Sneh Rana Replaces Deepti Sharma as India Insert Sri Lanka in Second T20I

India made one change to their playing XI for the second T20I against Sri Lanka in Visakhapatnam, with Sneh Rana coming in for Deepti Sharma, who was ruled out due to a mild fever. Deepti, the newly crowned world No. 1 T20I bowler, was unavailable just hours before the match.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss for the second game in a row and opted to field first, joking at the presentation that “winning the toss is not my cup of tea.” The decision mirrored India’s approach from the series opener at the same venue, where they secured a comfortable eight-wicket victory on Sunday.

Rana, an offspin-bowling allrounder, adds depth to India’s already long batting line-up. Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma and N Shree Charani, slotted at Nos. 9, 10 and 11, are all capable batters, giving India significant lower-order strength. Rana had featured in four of India’s five T20Is in England earlier this year but went wicketless in those appearances.

Despite a comprehensive defeat in the opening match of the five-T20I series, Sri Lanka opted to retain the same XI. The visitors showed faith in ambidextrous wristspinner Shashini Gimhani, who conceded 32 runs in two overs in the first game. Sri Lanka will be bowling second, with dew expected to play a major role later in the evening.

India XI: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Vaishnavi Sharma, N Shree Charani

Sri Lanka XI: Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kaushini Nuythyangana (wk), Inoka Ranaweera, Malki Madara, Kawya Kavindi, Shashini Gimhani