Sri Lanka Women Vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline

The Sri Lanka Women Vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline highlights one of the longest-running rivalries in women’s cricket across Asia. Since their first international meeting in 1997, the two teams have faced each other in Women’s One-Day Internationals (WODIs), Women’s Twenty20 Internationals (WT20Is), ICC Women’s World Cups, Women’s T20 World Cups, and Women’s Asia Cups. India has traditionally dominated the rivalry with experienced players such as Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Smriti Mandhana, while Sri Lanka has steadily closed the gap through stars like Chamari Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama, and Kavisha Dilhari. Their contests have become increasingly competitive, particularly after Sri Lanka’s memorable Women’s Asia Cup triumph in 2024. This timeline covers the rivalry’s complete history, memorable matches, major milestones, tournament meetings, records, and the latest developments through 2026.

Match Timeline

First Official Meeting (1997)

India Women and Sri Lanka Women met for the first time during the 1997 Women’s Cricket World Cup. India showcased its superior experience by securing a comfortable victory, laying the foundation for what would become one of Asia’s most consistent women’s cricket rivalries.

Early Years of India’s Dominance (1997–2005)

During the first decade of the rivalry, India controlled most encounters. Batters such as Anjum Chopra and Mithali Raj consistently scored runs, while Jhulan Goswami’s pace bowling proved difficult for Sri Lanka’s developing batting lineup.

Although Sri Lanka showed flashes of promise, India regularly won bilateral series and tournament matches with balanced performances in both batting and bowling.

Asia Cup Rivalry Intensifies (2006–2014)

The Women’s Asia Cup became the primary stage for the rivalry. India continued to dominate the competition, winning several titles, while Sri Lanka gradually improved by producing more competitive performances against stronger opposition.

Chamari Athapaththu emerged as Sri Lanka’s biggest match-winner during this period, delivering aggressive batting performances that challenged India’s experienced bowling attack.

Sri Lanka’s Gradual Improvement (2015–2019)

Sri Lanka Women made noticeable progress through better domestic development and consistent international exposure. Although India remained the stronger side overall, matches became significantly closer.

India continued to rely on experienced players including Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, and Poonam Yadav, while Sri Lanka developed a more balanced squad capable of competing against top-ranked teams.

A New Era of Competitive Cricket (2020–2023)

The rivalry entered a new chapter as Sri Lanka’s younger players gained confidence. Chamari Athapaththu continued leading from the front, while Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, and Kavisha Dilhari added depth.

India introduced several young talents alongside established stars, ensuring the rivalry remained highly competitive across both ODI and T20I cricket.

Historic Asia Cup Triumph (2024)

The biggest moment in Sri Lanka Women’s cricket history came during the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup Final, where they defeated India to win their maiden Asia Cup title.

Chamari Athapaththu produced a captain’s innings, while Sri Lanka held its nerve under pressure to end India’s long-standing dominance in the tournament. The victory became one of the greatest achievements in Sri Lankan women’s cricket.

Latest Developments (2025–2026)

The rivalry has continued to grow during the 2025 and 2026 international calendar. India remains one of the world’s strongest women’s teams, while Sri Lanka continues narrowing the gap through improved batting depth and disciplined bowling.

Both teams are expected to remain strong contenders in future ICC tournaments and Women’s Asia Cups.

Match Timeline

Memorable Encounters

First ODI Between the Teams

The first ODI established India as the stronger side, but it also marked the beginning of a rivalry that would grow significantly over the next three decades.

2005 Women’s World Cup Clash

India produced a disciplined all-round performance to defeat Sri Lanka comfortably, demonstrating the gap that existed between the two teams during the early years.

2018 Women’s Asia Cup Match

Sri Lanka challenged India throughout the contest before India’s experienced middle order guided the team to victory in a tense finish.

2022 Women’s Asia Cup Thriller

One of the closest T20 matches between the two sides saw both teams exchanging momentum throughout the innings before India’s bowlers defended a modest total.

2024 Women’s Asia Cup Final

The greatest match in the rivalry came when Sri Lanka defeated India in the tournament final.

Chasing a competitive target, Chamari Athapaththu played one of the finest innings in Sri Lankan women’s cricket history, while Harshitha Samarawickrama provided crucial support. The victory secured Sri Lanka’s first-ever Women’s Asia Cup championship and ended India’s long dominance in the tournament.

Most Exciting ODI Matches

Several ODI contests have featured successful run chases, dramatic batting collapses, and match-winning spells from both pace bowlers and spinners.

Best T20I Battles

The introduction of T20 cricket transformed the rivalry into a faster-paced contest where power hitting, athletic fielding, and effective death bowling often decided the outcome.

Important Milestones

India’s First Victory Over Sri Lanka Women

India won the inaugural meeting between the two teams in convincing fashion, establishing itself as one of Asia’s leading women’s cricket nations.

Sri Lanka Women’s First Win Against India

Sri Lanka’s breakthrough victory proved that the team had developed into a genuine competitor capable of defeating one of the world’s strongest sides.

Highest Successful Run Chase

Both teams have produced memorable run chases in white-ball cricket, reflecting the growing quality of batting throughout the rivalry.

First Bilateral Series Victory

India claimed the first bilateral series between the two nations, setting the tone for years of success in both ODI and T20I cricket.

Landmark Player Achievements

Several players have reached major career milestones while playing in this rivalry, including centuries, five-wicket hauls, and landmark appearance records.

Milestone Matches

Over nearly three decades, India Women and Sri Lanka Women have met regularly in ICC events, Asia Cups, and bilateral series, making this one of the most frequently contested rivalries in Asian women’s cricket.

Tournament Meetings

India Women and Sri Lanka Women have shared a long history in ICC tournaments and Women’s Asia Cup competitions. While India has traditionally dominated these meetings, Sri Lanka has produced several memorable performances, particularly in recent years.

ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup

The Women’s Cricket World Cup has featured several encounters between the two Asian rivals. India has generally enjoyed the upper hand thanks to experienced batting lineups and disciplined bowling attacks.

India’s consistency in World Cup matches has helped establish it as one of the strongest teams in women’s international cricket.

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup

Although the teams have met fewer times in the Women’s T20 World Cup, every contest has been highly competitive.

India has maintained an unbeaten record against Sri Lanka in Women’s T20 World Cup history through disciplined bowling and strong top-order batting.

Women’s Asia Cup

The Women’s Asia Cup has been the centerpiece of this rivalry for nearly two decades.

The 2024 Women’s Asia Cup Final marked the biggest moment in Sri Lanka Women’s cricket history. Defeating India to lift the trophy ended India’s dominance and proved that Sri Lanka had become a genuine title contender.

Commonwealth Games Qualifier & Multi-Nation Events

The teams have also faced each other in qualification tournaments and regional competitions, with India generally enjoying greater success due to its squad depth and experience.

Historic Wins

India’s Biggest ODI Victories

India has recorded several commanding ODI victories through dominant batting performances and disciplined bowling.

Some memorable wins include:

1. Victory by more than 100 runs in the 2013 Women’s World Cup.
2. Comfortable bilateral series victories in India.
3. Multiple Women’s Asia Cup wins by large margins.

These performances highlighted India’s superiority during the early years of the rivalry.

Sri Lanka’s Biggest ODI Victories

Sri Lanka’s ODI victories have become more frequent during the last decade.

Several wins were built around:

1. Chamari Athapaththu’s aggressive batting.
2. Accurate spin bowling in middle overs.
3. Improved fielding standards.

These victories reflected Sri Lanka’s remarkable improvement as a competitive international side.

India’s Largest T20I Wins

India has dominated numerous T20Is with explosive batting from Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Shafali Verma.

Large victories have often come through:

1. Fast starts in the powerplay.
2. Tight spin bowling.
3. Excellent death-over execution.

Sri Lanka’s Most Memorable T20I Wins

Sri Lanka’s finest T20 victory remains the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup Final, where the team chased confidently against one of the strongest bowling attacks in women’s cricket.

That triumph transformed the perception of Sri Lanka Women’s cricket worldwide.

Historic Upsets

Several matches stand out because Sri Lanka defeated a heavily favored Indian side.

The 2024 Asia Cup Final remains the greatest upset, while a handful of bilateral T20 victories have demonstrated Sri Lanka’s continued progress.

Best Away Victories

Winning overseas has never been easy for either side.

India has enjoyed success in Sri Lanka thanks to experienced spin bowlers, while Sri Lanka’s victories in India remain among the biggest achievements in the team’s history.

Record-Breaking Performances

Highest Individual Scores

These innings came under pressure and significantly influenced match results.

Best Bowling Figures

These spells underline the importance of disciplined bowling in matches between the two sides.

Most Runs in the Rivalry

Mithali Raj’s consistency over two decades made her the benchmark batter in this rivalry.

Most Wickets in the Rivalry

India’s experienced bowling attack has traditionally been the difference between the two teams.

Highest Team Totals

Lowest Team Totals

These totals highlight how spin-friendly conditions and disciplined bowling have often dictated the outcome of matches between the two sides.

Recent Matches (Updated 2026)

The rivalry has become increasingly competitive over the past few seasons. India Women remain one of the strongest teams in world cricket, but Sri Lanka Women have significantly narrowed the gap through improved batting, disciplined spin bowling, and confident leadership. The success of the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup gave Sri Lanka renewed belief, while India has continued to perform consistently in bilateral series and ICC tournaments. 

Recent Meetings

Top Performers in Recent Years

India Women have continued to rely on experienced stars such as Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, and Renuka Singh Thakur, while younger players have added depth to the squad.

Sri Lanka Women have been inspired by Chamari Athapaththu, whose all-round performances have transformed the team’s competitiveness. Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Vishmi Gunaratne, and Inoka Ranaweera have also played important roles in recent successes.

Latest Update (2026)

As of 2026, India Women continue to hold the historical advantage in the rivalry, but Sri Lanka Women have firmly established themselves as genuine contenders in Asian women’s cricket. Their improved performances in bilateral cricket and ICC events demonstrate the progress made since the landmark Women’s Asia Cup victory in 2024. 

Head-to-Head Record

Since their first meeting in 1997, the two teams have played regularly in Women’s ODIs and Women’s T20Is. India has dominated the overall record, although Sri Lanka has earned several notable victories in recent years.

Overall Head-to-Head Summary

Home vs Away Record

India’s strong batting lineup and experienced bowling attack have helped the team succeed in all conditions, while Sri Lanka’s recent improvements have made away matches far more competitive.

Major Records

Batting Records

1. Most runs in the rivalry: Mithali Raj
2. Most runs for Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu
3. Highest individual ODI score: Chamari Athapaththu
4. Most T20I runs: Smriti Mandhana
5. Most international centuries in this rivalry: Mithali Raj

Bowling Records

1. Most wickets: Jhulan Goswami
2. Most wickets among active Indian players: Deepti Sharma
3. Most wickets for Sri Lanka: Inoka Ranaweera
4. Best bowling figures: Jhulan Goswami

Team Records

The 2024 Women’s Asia Cup Final remains the defining moment in the rivalry, as Sri Lanka captured its maiden Asia Cup title by defeating India in the final.

Conclusion

The Sri Lanka Women Vs India Women’s National Cricket Team Timeline reflects the remarkable growth of women’s cricket in Asia. India dominated the rivalry for many years through exceptional players such as Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami, Smriti Mandhana, and Harmanpreet Kaur. However, Sri Lanka Women have transformed into a formidable side, led by Chamari Athapaththu and a talented new generation. Their historic Women’s Asia Cup triumph in 2024 changed the landscape of Asian women’s cricket, while the latest contests through 2026 have shown that every meeting is now highly competitive. With both teams continuing to develop exciting young talent, this rivalry is set to produce many more memorable moments in the years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who has won more matches between India Women and Sri Lanka Women?

India Women hold a commanding lead in both Women’s ODIs and Women’s T20 Internationals, although Sri Lanka Women have become increasingly competitive over the past few years. 

When did Sri Lanka Women first defeat India Women?

Sri Lanka Women registered their first international victory over India during the early years of the rivalry, but their most famous success came in the 2024 Women’s Asia Cup Final.

Who has scored the most runs in this rivalry?

Mithali Raj remains one of the highest run-scorers in matches between the two teams, while Chamari Athapaththu is Sri Lanka’s leading performer.

Which bowler has taken the most wickets?

Jhulan Goswami leads the wicket charts in this rivalry thanks to her remarkable consistency over nearly two decades.

What is the biggest match between these teams?

The 2024 Women’s Asia Cup Final is widely regarded as the most significant contest between the two nations. Sri Lanka’s victory secured its first Women’s Asia Cup title and marked a turning point in the rivalry.