Table of Contents
The rivalry between Sri Lanka Women and India Women has developed across Tests, ODIs and T20Is, with India holding the stronger overall record while Sri Lanka have produced several important breakthroughs. Their meetings have featured major Asia Cup finals, World Cup contests, bilateral series and memorable performances from players such as Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama. The rivalry has become particularly competitive in limited-overs cricket, where Sri Lanka have occasionally overturned India’s advantage in high-pressure matches. In 2024, Sri Lanka defeated India in the Women’s Asia Cup final, while India responded with a major win at the 2025 ODI World Cup and later dominated the 2026 Asia Cup final.
This timeline covers the major meetings, tournament milestones, memorable matches, historic wins and recent developments between the two teams.
Match Timeline
| Year/Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 17, 1997 | India and Sri Lanka met in an ODI in Chandigarh. India won by 104 runs. |
| April 17, 1998 | The teams played a Test in Colombo. India won by 10 wickets. |
| December 17, 2000 | India defeated Sri Lanka by 121 runs in an ODI in Kandy. |
| April 29, 2004 | India beat Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in Colombo. |
| May 5, 2008 | India won by 177 runs in Kurunegala, with Mithali Raj making 94 not out. |
| February 7, 2013 | India defeated Sri Lanka by seven wickets in Mumbai. |
| February 19, 2016 | India won the teams’ T20I meeting in Ranchi by nine wickets. |
| September 19, 2016 | Sri Lanka recorded a 10-wicket T20I victory over India in Colombo. |
| September 16, 2018 | Sri Lanka defeated India by three wickets in a T20I at Katunayake. |
| September 25, 2018 | India responded by winning the ODI in Katunayake by six wickets. |
| July 2022 | Sri Lanka and India played an ODI and T20I series, producing victories for both sides. |
| July 28, 2024 | Sri Lanka defeated India by eight wickets in the Women’s Asia Cup final at Dambulla. |
| October 9, 2024 | India beat Sri Lanka by 82 runs in the Women’s T20 World Cup in Dubai. |
| April 27, 2025 | India defeated Sri Lanka by nine wickets in the ODI tri-series in Colombo. |
| May 4, 2025 | Sri Lanka beat India by three wickets in another tri-series ODI. |
| May 11, 2025 | India defeated Sri Lanka by 97 runs in the tri-series final. |
| September 30, 2025 | India defeated Sri Lanka by 59 runs in the Women’s Cricket World Cup. |
| December 2025 | India completed a five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka as part of its preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup. |
| September 13, 2026 | India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the Women’s Asia Cup final and won its eighth Asia Cup title. |
| September 22, 2026 | India defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the Asian Games women’s cricket final. |
The historical match record shows that the rivalry has been active for nearly three decades. A compiled match history lists their first ODI meeting in 1997 and tracks their contests across all three formats.
Early Years of the Rivalry
The first recorded women’s international meeting between India and Sri Lanka came in December 1997.
India won that ODI in Chandigarh by 104 runs, establishing an early advantage. The following year, the sides met in a Test match in Colombo, where India won by 10 wickets.
India continued to dominate many of the early encounters. Victories in 2000, 2004 and 2008 demonstrated the difference between the teams at that stage.
The 2008 meeting in Kurunegala was particularly notable. India scored 276/5 before dismissing Sri Lanka for 99, producing a 177-run victory.
The Rise of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka gradually became more competitive in the shorter formats.
The emergence of Chamari Athapaththu was particularly important. Her aggressive batting gave Sri Lanka an attacking option capable of changing games quickly.
A major turning point arrived in 2016.
Sri Lanka defeated India by 10 wickets in a T20I in Colombo after Athapaththu and Prasadani Weerakkody completed the chase without losing a wicket.
Two years later, Sri Lanka again defeated India in T20I cricket.
Athapaththu scored 57 as Sri Lanka chased India’s 168/4 and won by three wickets at Katunayake.
India responded strongly in the ODI meeting that followed, winning by six wickets with Smriti Mandhana scoring 73 not out.
These results illustrated an important feature of the rivalry: while India generally held the stronger overall record, Sri Lanka were capable of producing match-winning performances when their leading batters performed.
Memorable Encounters
2016 T20I: Sri Lanka’s 10-Wicket Victory
India posted 127/8 in Colombo, but Sri Lanka’s chase was remarkably comfortable.
Athapaththu scored 63 not out and Chamari Sanjeewani made 45 not out. Sri Lanka reached the target without losing a wicket.
The result was significant because it showed Sri Lanka could defeat India through aggressive top-order batting rather than relying solely on close finishes.
2018 T20I: Another Sri Lankan Breakthrough
Sri Lanka’s three-wicket victory at Katunayake was another important T20I result.
India’s 168/4 appeared competitive, but Athapaththu’s 57 helped Sri Lanka remain in control of the chase.
The match demonstrated how quickly the balance could shift when Sri Lanka’s captain produced an attacking innings.
2024 Women’s Asia Cup Final
The 2024 Women’s Asia Cup final became one of Sri Lanka’s most important victories against India.
India scored 165/6 after being sent to bat first. Sri Lanka responded with 166/2 and won by eight wickets.
Athapaththu scored 61 while Harshitha Samarawickrama remained unbeaten on 69. Their partnership turned a difficult final into a convincing Sri Lankan victory.
The victory was historic because Sri Lanka claimed their first Women’s Asia Cup title.
2024 T20 World Cup
India had an opportunity to respond later that year at the Women’s T20 World Cup.
In Dubai, India scored 172/3 and then dismissed Sri Lanka for 90.
India won by 82 runs, with Smriti Mandhana scoring 50 and Harmanpreet Kaur contributing 52. Arundhati Reddy took three wickets.
The match showed the contrast between the two teams’ Asia Cup final and World Cup performances within the same year.
2025 ODI Tri-Series
Sri Lanka hosted a three-team ODI tournament involving India and South Africa in April and May 2025. All matches were scheduled at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.
India and Sri Lanka met twice in the league stage.
April 27, 2025
India defeated Sri Lanka by nine wickets.
Sri Lanka were dismissed for 147, while India reached the target with only one wicket down. Sneh Rana took three wickets, while Pratika Rawal made an unbeaten 50.
May 4, 2025
Sri Lanka produced a strong response.
India scored 275/9, but Sri Lanka chased the target successfully, reaching 278/7 to win by three wickets.
Nilakshika de Silva scored 56, while Harshitha Samarawickrama made 53.
The victory gave Sri Lanka another example of their ability to challenge India in ODI cricket.
May 11, 2025: Final
India and Sri Lanka met again in the final.
India produced an outstanding batting display, scoring 342/7. Smriti Mandhana made 116, giving India the platform for a huge total.
Sri Lanka were eventually restricted to 245, giving India a 97-run victory.
Sneh Rana took four wickets for 38 runs.
The final therefore ended the tournament with India winning the trophy despite Sri Lanka having defeated India earlier in the competition.
2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup
The rivalry continued at the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup.
India opened its campaign against Sri Lanka in Guwahati on September 30.
The match was reduced to 47 overs per side because of rain. India made 269/8, with Deepti Sharma scoring 53 from 53 deliveries.
Sri Lanka struggled during the chase and finished behind India’s revised target. India won by 59 runs under the DLS method. Deepti Sharma also took three wickets.
The result gave India a winning start to its World Cup campaign.
2025 T20I Series
India then hosted Sri Lanka for a five-match T20I series in December 2025 as part of preparations for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup.
The series was scheduled across Visakhapatnam and Thiruvananthapuram.
India won the first four matches.
In the fourth T20I, India scored 221/2, its highest-ever women’s T20I total at the time. Smriti Mandhana scored 80 and Shafali Verma made 79, while their 162-run opening partnership became India’s highest partnership for any wicket in the format.
Sri Lanka responded with 191, leaving India with a 30-run victory.
The series was important beyond the bilateral result because both teams were using the matches to prepare for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup.
2026 Asia Cup Final
The 2026 Women’s Asia Cup final provided another major chapter.
India and Sri Lanka met again in the title match on September 13, 2026.
India scored 183/5, with Shafali Verma making 68 and Smriti Mandhana scoring 59.
Sri Lanka were then dismissed for 111 as India’s spinners controlled the chase.
India won by 72 runs and secured its eighth Women’s Asia Cup title. The result also reversed the outcome of the 2024 final, when Sri Lanka had beaten India for the championship.
Asian Games Final 2026
The teams met again in the 2026 Asian Games women’s cricket final on September 22.
India produced an enormous total of 216/3 from 20 overs.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 69 in 15.4 overs.
India therefore won by 147 runs, adding another major tournament victory to its recent record against Sri Lanka.
Important Milestones
| Milestone | Significance |
|---|---|
| 1997 first ODI meeting | Marked the beginning of the recorded ODI rivalry |
| 1998 Test meeting | Demonstrated the teams’ early multi-format relationship |
| 2016 Sri Lankan T20I win | Sri Lanka secured a major 10-wicket victory |
| 2018 Sri Lankan T20I win | Confirmed Sri Lanka’s growing competitiveness in T20 cricket |
| 2024 Asia Cup final | Sri Lanka won its first Women’s Asia Cup title |
| 2024 T20 World Cup | India responded with an 82-run victory |
| 2025 ODI tri-series | Both teams defeated each other before India won the final |
| 2025 World Cup | India beat Sri Lanka by 59 runs |
| 2025 T20I series | India opened preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup with a five-match series |
| 2026 Asia Cup final | India beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs |
| 2026 Asian Games final | India won by 147 runs |
Tournament Meetings
The rivalry has become especially important in regional tournaments.
| Tournament | Meeting | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Women’s Asia Cup 2022 | Final | India won |
| Women’s Asia Cup 2024 | Final | Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets |
| Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 | Group stage | India won by 82 runs |
| ODI Tri-Series 2025 | League match | India won by 9 wickets |
| ODI Tri-Series 2025 | League match | Sri Lanka won by 3 wickets |
| ODI Tri-Series 2025 | Final | India won by 97 runs |
| Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 | Group stage | India won by 59 runs |
| Women’s Asia Cup 2026 | Final | India won by 72 runs |
| Asian Games 2026 | Final | India won by 147 runs |
The 2024 Asia Cup final remains particularly significant because Sri Lanka defeated India to claim their first title, while the 2026 final went the other way.
Head-to-Head Record
India have historically held the upper hand.
Ahead of their five-match T20I series in December 2025, the ICC noted that India had won 20 of the previous 26 meetings between the teams in the format and that Sri Lanka’s most recent victory in India had come in 2014.
The overall picture, however, needs context. Sri Lanka have produced several notable victories, particularly in T20Is and the 2024 Asia Cup final.
| Area | Historical Pattern |
|---|---|
| Overall rivalry | India have generally had the stronger record |
| ODI cricket | India have traditionally dominated |
| T20I cricket | India lead overall, but Sri Lanka have recorded notable wins |
| Asia Cup | Both teams have won major finals |
| World Cup meetings | India have had the advantage |
| Recent major finals | India won in 2025 and 2026; Sri Lanka won in 2024 |
Major Records and Performances
Smriti Mandhana’s 2025 Tri-Series Century
Mandhana’s 116 in the 2025 tri-series final was one of the standout batting performances in recent meetings.
Her century helped India reach 342/7, giving the bowlers a large total to defend.
Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana’s T20I Partnership
In the fourth T20I in December 2025, Mandhana and Shafali put together 162 for the first wicket.
It became India’s highest partnership for any wicket in women’s T20Is at the time, and both batters passed 75 in a record-setting team total of 221/2.
Chamari Athapaththu’s Influence
Athapaththu has been one of Sri Lanka’s most important players throughout the modern rivalry.
Her aggressive batting played a major role in Sri Lanka’s T20I victories over India and in the 2024 Asia Cup final.
Her 61 in that final gave Sri Lanka the platform for an eight-wicket win.
Deepti Sharma’s All-Round Impact
Deepti Sharma was central to India’s 2025 World Cup victory over Sri Lanka.
She scored 53 and then took three wickets, demonstrating the value of an all-round performance in a rain-affected ODI.
What Makes the Rivalry Interesting?
The India-Sri Lanka women’s rivalry has a distinctive pattern.
India have usually controlled the overall head-to-head record, particularly in bilateral ODI cricket. Sri Lanka, however, have repeatedly shown that they can challenge India when their top players perform.
The biggest example came in the 2024 Asia Cup final. Sri Lanka’s chase was controlled by Athapaththu and Samarawickrama, and the team won comfortably.
India’s response came through a series of major victories: the 2024 T20 World Cup meeting, the 2025 ODI World Cup, the 2025 T20I series and the 2026 Asia Cup final.
That creates an interesting contrast between long-term dominance and individual tournament breakthroughs.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did India Women and Sri Lanka Women first play each other?
The recorded women’s international rivalry began with an ODI in Chandigarh on December 17, 1997. India won by 104 runs. The teams then met in a Test in Colombo in April 1998, which India won by 10 wickets.
Who won the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup final between India and Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka won the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup final by eight wickets in Dambulla. Sri Lanka chased India’s 165/6 with 166/2, led by Chamari Athapaththu’s 61 and Harshitha Samarawickrama’s unbeaten 69.
Who won the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup match between India and Sri Lanka?
India won by 59 runs under the DLS method. The match was shortened to 47 overs per side, and Deepti Sharma contributed 53 runs and three wickets.
What happened in the 2025 ODI tri-series between India and Sri Lanka?
India and Sri Lanka defeated each other during the league stage. India won their first meeting by nine wickets, while Sri Lanka won the second by three wickets. India then won the final by 97 runs after scoring 342/7.
Who won the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup final?
India defeated Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup final. India scored 183/5 before dismissing Sri Lanka for 111. Shafali Verma scored 68 and Smriti Mandhana made 59. The victory gave India its eighth Women’s Asia Cup title.
Conclusion
The Sri Lanka Women Vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline shows how a largely India-dominated rivalry has developed into a competitive contest with important Sri Lankan breakthroughs. India’s early dominance established the pattern, but Sri Lanka’s T20I victories and 2024 Asia Cup triumph demonstrated their ability to challenge their neighbors on major occasions.
The 2025 ODI tri-series provided another close chapter, with both teams beating each other before India won the final. India then won the 2025 World Cup meeting, followed by victories over Sri Lanka in the 2026 Asia Cup final and Asian Games final.
Across nearly three decades, the rivalry has produced contrasting styles, outstanding individual performances and important tournament matches. With both teams continuing to develop their squads, their future meetings should remain an important part of women’s international cricket.