Akash Pandey, born and brought up in Kolkata, West Bengal, is now making his name in Indian domestic cricket with some great performances for the Indian Railways team. Akash rose to fame after taking 9 wickets in an inning against Goa in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024 season and has already taken 28 wickets in 6 games so far this season. After his historical 13 wicket-haul in the game against Goa, Akash shared his thoughts with Sportz Point in an exclusive interview.

Akash Pandey was touted to be one of the prospects for Bengal after he helped Bengal win the 2016-17 Cooch Behar Trophy and then was part of the U-23 teams as well that were successful in the following years. However, as he was looking for a smooth entry into the Bengal senior team, Shahbaz Ahmed's presence in the team halted that. Though he was asked to be a net bowler and be with the Bengal team, Akash looked for opportunities to showcase his talents.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Akash Pandey (@akashpandey1)

Soon, he joined the Indian Railways team and is now playing his third season in the Ranji Trophy. Along with Akash, Ananta Saha, Amit Kuila, Vivek Singh, Saurabh Singh and Kanishk Seth joined the Railways team looking for an opportunity in the first-class arena, but only Vivek, Saurabh and Akash were able to fix their spot in the team.

Akash first played in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in the 2021-22 season and then debuted in the Ranji Trophy in the same season against Puducherry in Chennai. Till now, he has featured in the 14 First-class games in the three seasons for Railways and has taken 63 wickets with an excellent average of 21.65 including 5 five-wicket hauls and 3 ten-wicket hauls.

"First-class arena is a tough place to be if we are not learning from every day and I feel with senior players in the team, I am learning a lot every day which has helped me settle in the Railways team," Akash told Sportz Point when asked about his transformation to senior cricket from underage cricket.

Though Akash still has lots of great friends from the Bengal team and they keep on congratulating him personally on his success, there has been no communication from Bengal team management even after some initial success, and he has found his new home in the Railways team.

"I wanted to have a better opportunity that is why I chose Railways. My club teams Mohun Bagan, Metro Rail, and even East Bengal team management congratulated me on my success, which feels great on a personal level," Akash expressed.

Also Read: Bengal Cricket: A tale of gloomy future and lack of actions

Since his debut, Akash has done exceptionally well for the Railways team but has gone under the radar. But that does not demotivate him since winning is the only thing he has learned to focus on since his early days in cricket.

"It does not matter where I am playing. I want to do well for the team. I want to help the team win in any way possible. So, I know what I have to do to help Railways win. And I feel, till the day I am doing that, I will be doing good for myself as well."

Akash's 9-wicket haul in the second inning against Goa was one of the instances where he just focused on winning the game for his team and achieved the best bowling figure of his career so far. In the matchweek where Jalaj Saxena's 9 wicket haul against Bengal made all the headlines, Akash's spell again went unnoticed.

"Look again, I was given the task to help my team win. I was doing that. We had to bundle them quickly to get the win. I was bowling well as well. So, in my mind, I never thought I would get that many wickets. But, yes, it feels good," Akash shared his feelings on his 9/71 against Goa.

Akash has been a fan of Bishan Singh Bedi since his childhood and started his cricket hearing all the stories about him from his father, who himself was a cricketer. From hearing Bedi's story to learning all the tricks from coaches like Kallo Sen and Pranob Nandy, Akash started growing as a spinner. However, he feels his bowling action is very similar to former India spinner Murali Kartik's bowling action, and he would love to spin his web just like him in the future.

Along with his bowling, Akash always was a handy batter down the order, and his 20.78 average with the bat for the Railways team speaks volumes for that. Though he feels he needs to get better at batting and help his team score more runs, he is confident that he can turn up with the bat for his team in any situation.

"I just hope to contribute to the team's success in every way possible. So, I score some runs down the order, that helps our bowling unit as well because we get more runs to bowl at as well."

In Indian Men's domestic cricket, Railways' players have always gone unnoticed despite doing well. Akash does not want to look at things in a negative way in that manner. He feels if he keeps on pushing the doors with his performance, he can play at the highest level from any team.

Taking inspiration from Sarfaraz Khan's journey, he said, "Look at Sarfaraz Khan, he has toiled hard to get the Indian cap. I am willing to do that as well. I believe what is supposed to happen will happen. So, I trust in God and do my bit on the field."

It is uncommon in India for a girl to pursue a career in sports without facing skepticism from family and friends. Four years ago, Sonali Das from Habibpur, Nadia, picked up a cricket ball to bowl after being inspired by videos of Jhulan Goswami. At that time, many doubted her aspirations, and some even laughed at her.

However, in just four years, the 16-year-old has turned those doubts into confidence and laughter into applause. She bowls like Malinga, a fact that becomes immediately evident to anyone who sees her bowl.

With an impressive 8-wicket haul in the semi-finals of the U-16 Girls School Cricket and receiving the Bowler of the Tournament award in the presence of her idol, Jhulan Goswami, Sonali now has her sights set on representing Bengal in the upcoming Bengal Pro T20 League 2025.

Recently, Sonali was selected by the Adamas Howrah Warriors for this prestigious tournament, an opportunity that brings her one step closer to realising her dreams. Sportz Point had the privilege of hearing her inspiring story in an exclusive interview.

Read Also | Bengal Women's Cricket Exclusive: Two out of two finals, record chase against Haryana, Jhulan Goswami, WPL and more

"Watching Jhulan Maam's videos inspired me to play cricket"

Sonali fell in love with cricket at the age of 12, captivated by Jhulan Goswami's bowling. Like countless other girls in the country, she aspired to emulate the greatest bowler in women's cricket history. Notably, both Jhulan and Sonali hail from the same district in Nadia, West Bengal.

"I started getting attached and loving this game after watching Jhulan Goswami maa'm bowl. I just loved how she used to clean up stumps at the international level. Everything started from there for me," Sonali told Sportz Point. 

However, convincing the family to support a sporting career can be challenging, especially for a 12-year-old girl in India.

"Initially, my father was reluctant to send me to a cricket coaching centre. But after COVID, I managed to persuade him to enrol me in a coaching centre in Ranaghat," Sonali recounted.

Sonali's journey began at a cricket coaching camp in Ranaghat, where her unique bowling style caught the attention of others, though she also faced harsh criticism. During a U-14 District Zonal camp, coach Paramita Roy noticed Sonali’s accuracy and aggressiveness and believed that with proper training, Sonali could become a future star for Bengal. 

Soon, Sonali started her 3-hour-long train journey three days a week to reach her goals. And, Goutam Das, Sonali's father, understood that her daughter was born to do something great in cricket.

Read Also | Bengal Cricket: 7 U-19 cricketers from Bengal who can play for India in future

Getting noticed by the greats during the Girls' School Tournament

As the training started under Paramita Roy, Goutam Das felt that to help her daughter shine in cricket, she needed to be closer to the coaching camp and avoid a long journey. Along with that, he realised that Sonali needed to play more tournaments to enhance her skills. 

Soon, he admitted Sonali to Infocus India Public School so that Sonali could take part in the C.A.B. Organised U-16 Girls School Cricket. And that tournament turned out to be a turning point for Sonali. 

"I began working under Paramita Ma'am and improved rapidly as a bowler. She also focused on my batting so I could contribute valuable runs in the lower order," Sonali explained.

"With my progress, I gained support from everyone around me. Now, I live in a rented place in Kolkata to minimise travel for practice. My father has been my biggest supporter on this journey," she emphasised. 

"Playing in the U-16 Girls' School Cricket tournament changed the trajectory of my career. I was noticed by many former Indian cricketers like Jhulan (Goswami) Maa'm, Lopamudra Bhattacharji) Maa'm and Gargi (Banerjee) Maa'm during the tournament. They all gave me some valuable advice to improve and work on."

That 8/9 in the semi-final

Sonali's moment came when she rattled through South Point High School, batting line up and returned with a bowling figure of 8 for 9 runs and also scored 22 runs as Infocus India Public School defeated South Point by 306 runs. Sonali received the Player of the match award from former India cricketer Gargi Banerjee, which she feels is one of the best moments of her career.

In the final against Behala Kishore Bharati Girls' High School, Sonali again returned with 3 wickets for only 9 runs as Infocus India Public School won the tournament. Sonali won the "Best Bowler of the Tournament" award for taking 15 wickets in just 5 matches. 

Read Also | Exclusive | Taunts to Claps: Priyanka Bala's journey from rural village of Nadia to WPL

From school cricket to senior cricket

This helped her get drafted into the C.A.B. Women's Club Tournament, where she got the chance to go shoulder to shoulder against some of the best in Bengal cricket. In the C.A.B. Women's Club Cricket League (ONE-DAY) Tournament 2024-2025, Sonali returned with 9 wickets in 6 matches at an average of 18.67, to gain the trust of Adamas Howarh Warriors Franchise to pick her for the Bengal Pro T20 League 2025.

"I am thankful to everyone in the Adamas Howrah Warriors for picking me for this huge tournament. I am delighted to get this opportunity," Sonali stated. 

"My immediate goal is to help the franchise do well in the tournament under Dhara (Gujjar) di. And then play for the Bengal U-19 team. I know if I can make myself ready for the U-19 level, I will be doing good. It is all about taking it step by step," the 16-year-old pacer shared. 

Post the Bengal Pro T20 League 2025, Sonali will be shifting to Kolkata along with her parents to fully focus on cricket. She now just wants to make her parents and family proud.

"We will be shifting to Kolkata permanently only for my cricket. I just want to make my parents and family proud and happy," she expressed.

The Bengal Pro Women's T20 League 2025 will start from 16th May, till 4th June at the M.G.R. Sports Academy Ground in Birbhum, West Bengal. 

Whether with Bhowanipur Club or East Bengal, Sandipan Das has consistently helped his teams win trophies. After achieving numerous victories, including a treble last year with Bhowanipur, the former ICC U-19 World Cup winner is now on the brink of delivering East Bengal's first league trophy in a decade.

Following his man-of-the-match performance in the semi-final against arch-rivals Mohun Bagan, Sandipan Das shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point. 

"The winning mentally is there since childhood"

For Sandipan, playing in the final of a championship or winning it is not new; he has been securing trophies since his U-13 days. The Bengal all-rounder attributes his winning mentality to his childhood coach, Debesh Chakraborty, who instilled this mindset in him from an early age.

“I have been winning trophies since childhood. Whether it was the Ambar Roy tournament in U-13s or any other competition, I've always been part of champion teams. Thanks to Debesh Sir, who took me to play in those tournaments, the winning mentality has stayed with me throughout my career,” Sandipan Das told Sportz Point.

Read Also | Bengal Ranji Team in Last Three Seasons: 13 opening combinations, 22 debutants and many more numbers

"If 100 is not enough, I need to score 150"

After contributing to India's victory in the ICC U-19 World Cup under Unmukt Chand in 2012, Sandipan was fast-tracked into the Bengal team. Just a month after the World Cup, he made his List A debut, followed by his First-Class and T20 debuts.

However, despite showing promise, he struggled to make a significant impact for Bengal and has not played a single game since January 2015. Although he has excelled in the club format and helped his teams win titles nearly every season, Sandipan found himself out of the state team.

"It has been a long time since I played for Bengal. But I do not want to blame anyone for that. I believe I should score 150 if 100 is not enough. That has been my motive. I want to improve every day as a cricketer and leave the rest to God," Sandipan expressed.

"This attitude has also helped me win for my teams. If I think 100 is enough, I might become complacent and get out. Or if I feel that taking just two wickets suffices, I might bowl a loose over. There is no room for complacency in cricket," he added.

A perfect example of this mindset occurred during Sandipan's innings for East Bengal against Mohun Bagan in the C.A.B. First Division Championship semi-final. The match was evenly poised after the first day, and one mistake from Sandipan could have tipped the scales in favor of Mohun Bagan.

At the start of Day 2, Sandipan believed they could reach 450 runs. However, after losing partners, he decided to focus on taking the game deep, even if it meant not scoring a century. Eventually, East Bengal finished with 408 runs, and Sandipan remained unbeaten on 108.

Read Also | Batting, bowling & captaincy - Sandipan Das is ready for a rebirth at the first-class level | Bengal Cricket Exclusive

Monayem+Sandipan = Success in Kolkata Club Cricket

Such patience and attitude of Sandipan did not develop overnight; they are the result of years of practice, dedication, and guidance from his coaches. In addition to his childhood coach, Abdul Monayem has been a constant support for Sandipan for over a decade.

Monayem is one of the most successful coaches in Kolkata club cricket, who led Bhowanipur Club to three league titles in recent years. Sandipan thrived under Monayem’s guidance, which not only helped him grow as a cricketer but also as a captain of the team.

Currently the coach of East Bengal, Monayem brought Sandipan to join the team this year, aiming for more trophies together. The success in the P. Sen Trophy and reaching the league final after nearly a decade is a testament to their strong camaraderie.

"He (Abdul Monayem) is like a mentor to me. I have been playing under him for more than ten years now. He knows me very well, and I understand his expectations. Sometimes he is like a big brother; other times, he is a friend with a supportive hand on my shoulder. This relationship has allowed him to bring out the best in the players," Sandipan shared.

"Players like Abhishek Das, Agniv Pan, and many others have been together for many years now. This group, under Abdul (Monayem) Sir, has consistently achieved great things because he understands each player, and as a team, we strive to do our best," Sandipan added.

Read Also | Bengal Cricket Exclusive: "We all know this game can make us heroes to the fans," East Bengal's Satyaki Dutta ahead of Kolkata Derby

"I enjoy being around the young kids"

In addition to being one of the top batting all-rounders in Bengal, Sandipan runs a coaching center. This initiative allows him to switch his focus from his own cricketing career and share his knowledge with the next generation.

"I believe this brings out a different side of me. Working with kids and teaching them the basics of cricket is something I love. I truly enjoy being with them," Sandipan stated.

"During my childhood, I did not have access to many facilities here in Jagaddal, so I try to give them as much as I can and share my knowledge," he concluded.

Shreyan Chakraborty has been one of the most underrated players in Bengal cricket in the last few seasons. The left-arm spinner has silently performed well for East Bengal in the last two seasons and bailed out the Red and Gold brigade from tough situations with bat and ball in hand. 

After helping East Bengal qualify for the C.A.B. First Division Championship final after nearly 10 years, with his 67/4 and 30 (64), Shreyan shared his thoughts with Sportz Point in an exclusive interview. 

Underated? Does it even matter?

I have already called him underrated at the start of this interview. But does he believe he is underrated? If yes, does he enjoy that tag? 

Well, for Shreyan, it is all about getting the job done. Be it taking the main wicket of the opponent's batting lineup, scoring crucial 40-50 runs or more with the bat in the lower order when the chips are down, or breaking an important partnership, like he did in the Kolkata derby against Mohun Bagan, Shreyan just wants to help East Bengal win. 

But, he knows that at this age of modern cricket, even with the kind of performances he has delivered in the last two seasons, it is time that he breaks the underrated tag.

"Firstly, when you just want to do well for your team, it does not matter whether you are underrated or not. But, yes, when you perform and give your best day in and day out for your team, you obviously love it when people appreciate you and love you. It boosts you as an athlete," Shreyan told Sportz Point. 

Read Also | Women's Cricket Exclusive: Age 14, 5 feet 8 inches tall, bowls left-arm wrist spin; Debjani Das is all set to be Bengal's next cricketing superstar

"I have matured now as a cricketer"

Shreyan last played for Bengal in his debut season in 2020, and later, he got COVID, which ruled him out of the team. Since then, he has not been able to break the doors of Bengal cricket even with great performances. That is why Shreyan feels that if he had the limelight on him, it might have been easier for him to get that call back to Bengal cricket again. 

"When you have the limelight on you, you get closer to the Bengal team. That is why you perform and give your 200% each day. Everyone wants to play at the highest level and do well there," Shreyan shared.

Shreyan feels he was fortunate enough to represent Bengal at the first-class level in 2020. But he feels that he did not do justice to his talent at that time in the red ball format. However, with age, more games and, most importantly, trophies, Shryean feels he is at his best in terms of maturity and skill to represent Bengal again. 

That is why he calls out to Cricket to give him another chance to play at the highest level. 

"I am fortunate that I got the chance to don that Bengal jersey in 2020. But, be it white ball or red ball, I feel I have matured now as a cricketer and at my best shape to represent Bengal again. I still hope that the team management is looking at my performances and will give me another chance to play for the state," Shreyan expressed.

Read Also | Bengal Cricket: 7 U-19 cricketers from Bengal who can play for India in future

"It is all about winning games for your teams"

Even though he has this constant thought of playing for Bengal again, whenever he plays for big clubs like East Bengal, the goal is entirely different for him. According to Shreyan, these big clubs want and expect trophies. To win trophies, you need to win the big moments and do well in pressure situations. That is what he focuses on during his training and match days. 

"When you play for big clubs like East Bengal, there is no chance you think about something other than helping the team to win. That's it. The focus remains on winning big moments, doing well in pressure situations. I think it is the same for everyone in the team," Shreyan stated. 

But, how does he prepare himself for those big situations? For him, it is all about keeping it simple, following the process and being aggressive, without being aggressive.

"Firstly, you need to love being in a pressure situation. I love that. I love being there and taking the team over the line. Be it with ball, bat or fielding. I just try to follow a simple process and mentally be aggressive against any opponent," the 28-year-old left-arm spinner mentioned.

Read Also | Bengal Ranji Team in Last Three Seasons: 13 opening combinations, 22 debutants and many more numbers

Adding more value with the bat"

With the ball in hand, Shreyan has been one of Bengal's best in business. But, post 2020, he felt he needed to add more value to the team, and that is why he made a conscious effort to work on his batting and those valuable runs down the order. Throughout the entire season, Shreyan has bailed out East Bengal from tough situations, batting at the lower middle order. 

"I know that I am one of the best in business in the state in terms of bowling left-arm spin or contributing on the field. But, I wanted to have another aspect to my game so that teams could not leave me out due to team combinations."

"That is why I made a conscious effort to work on my batting in the off-season, and it has worked like magic for me. I hope to keep contributing with the bat like I have been doing in recent times." 

On the verge of a great victory

Shreyan and the whole East Bengal team are now on the verge of gifting the fans something that they have not tasted in the last 10 years, a league championship trophy in cricket. But, they will be up against the defending champions, Bhowanipur Club, who have been the best team in Bengal in the last few seasons. 

"The good thing is that we have already tasted success in the P.Sen Trophy. And we have a team that can win from any situation against any team. Bhowanipur is a strong team. How they defeated Kalighat is quite commanding."

"I know it will be a great final against them. I am hopeful that we will be able to gift the fans the trophy they have been waiting for a long time now," Shreyan stated.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi just broke the record to become the youngest centurion in Indian Premier League history at the age of 14 years 32 days old. Not only that, with his 35-ball ton against Gujarat Titans, the opening batter from Bihar scored the second-fastest overall and fastest century by any Indian in IPL history. 

A moment he will never forget! 🩷

Vaibhav Suryavanshi earns applause from all corners after his historic knock 🫡👏

Updates ▶ https://t.co/HvqSuGgTlN#TATAIPL | #RRvGT | @rajasthanroyals pic.twitter.com/tcDTCWSWTh

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 28, 2025

"He is different from others"

Ashok Kumar, who coached Vaibhav in the Bihar U19 and men's senior team, feels that if Vaibhav Suryavanshi can work on his fielding and fitness, he will play for India in T20s in the next two years. The Bihar head coach shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point after Vaibhav's historical ton. 

"Before the match, I had a conversation with Vaibhav. I just advised him to be patient and wait for the balls in his zone," said Ashok Kumar, who feels the only thing that was missing from Vaibhav's game was patience. 

"Look, he is totally a unique player. He is different from others. I know he can be a match-winner for any team in this format," Ashok Kumar shared. 

Vaibhav was picked up by the Rajasthan Royals for a whopping 1.10 crore rupees, which made him the youngest player ever in the auction history. After that, Ashok Kumar knew that under Rahul Dravid, the youngster would learn lots of things in terms of cricket and life. 

Vaibhav not only learned but also impressed Rahul Dravid so much that he was handed the debut cap, and at just 14 years and a few days old, he became the youngest IPL player ever. Till then, everything has been like a dream for Vaibhav and his close ones. 

Read Also | Exclusive | "He has the intent to play at the highest level," Bihar head coach on Vaibhav Suryavanshi

An impactful debut

His six against Shardul Thakur in the first ball he faced in the IPL surprised everyone. Even the commentators were stunned to see the youngster stepping out against the pace of Shardul in a platform like the IPL. But Ashok Kumar knew from the beginning that he could do things like this. 

"I had told you earlier that he has the talent and intent to hit anyone. Everyone thinks that he is batting aggressively. But this is his actual style of batting. You make him play 90 90-over game, he will play like this. He is natural," he shared. 

"That is why I want to tell all the coaches he will meet in his life not to make him bat like others. He should not lose his intent," he added. 

Before the historical debut, Ashok Kumar had the chance to talk with Rahul Dravid, and he told the former India coach the same thing. 

"Even I told the same thing to (Rahul) Dravid sir. He also agreed that Vaibhav should not lose his intent. I told him to work on his bowling as well. He can be a match-winner for any team."

Read Also | IPL facts: Every player to make IPL debut before turning 18

"Vaibhav wants to finish matches"

Although Vaibhav had a great start to his IPL career in the first two games, he was not happy with himself for the way he got out in those matches. In fact, after the dismissal in the first match against LSG, everyone saw him shed a few drops of tears. That is why Ashok Kumar had advised him to have patience and only focus on the things which work well for him. 

"If you see his dismissal against RCB, he tried a shot that he had never played in the past. He has developed these kinds of shots in the camp. But I told him that you can try new things only after a few matches. I knew if he could wait for the bat balls, he was a good enough player to hit anyone," Ashok Kumar shared. 

"Vaibhav wants to finish games. I am sure he is disappointed not to be there till the win. And, for everyone out there, he is not a baccha (kid) in cricket. No one can call him that. Only I can call him that. It is only about time when the world realises that he is a man wrapped in a kid's body," he added. 

Vaibhav idolises Brian Lara since his childhood (although he is still a kid). He watches the former West Indian captain's old highlights to pick a few tricks to emulate. Tonight, after his ton, Brian Lara himself shared Vaibhav's video on Instagram, saying that he was entertained watching him bat. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brian Lara (@brianlaraofficial)

"If someone like Lara is watching Vaibhav bat and appreciating him, it is a great thing for Bihar and Indian cricket. The youngster in Bihar would be inspired by watching his growth. He will always have my support in his life and career," Ahsok Kumar expressed. 

During the Bengal vs Bihar match, Vaibhav Suryvanshi had told me that he idolises Brian Lara!

Brian Lara just posted an Instagram post showing Vaibhav’s batting!

This is success! This is what IPL can do!

Congratulations! #vaibhavsuryavanshi

— Koushik Biswas (@kbofficial25) April 28, 2025

India started the Tri-Nation Women's ODI series with a winning note as they defeated the host Sri Lanka by 9 wickets. India chased down Sri Lanka's 148-run target with 56 balls remaining in the match after Indian spinners dominated the Sri Lankan batters in the first innings.

The match was initially interrupted by rain which resulted in the loss of overs, reducing to 39 overs a side. Indian announced their arrival with an impressively controlled victory at the R. Premadasa Stadium stadium, Colombo.

Indian spinners dominated the game from the start

The Sri Lankan team, batting first, struggled to build partnership and were bowled out for 147 in 38.1 overs. Indian bowlers dominated the entire first inning with Arundhati Reddy dismissing the Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu and getting an early wicket for the team. It followed by an exceptional bowling performance leading to a constant flow of wickets, which completely shattered Sri Lanka’s batting line-up.

Sneh Rana was a star performer, who took 3 crucial wickets for India, with Deepti Sharma and Sree Charani taking 2 wickets each. Additionally, the on-field efforts of the Indian team was commendable in today's match.

During the second inning, India started off comfortably with the bat, without trying to rush things out. The opening pair, Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal, formed a partnership of 54 runs for the first wicket. Smriti Mandhana missed out on her 31st ODI half-century and was dismissed at 43 (off 46 balls). 

Harleen Deol came to bat next and played composed cricket, scoring 48 runs from 71 balls. Sri Lanka failed to take more wickets, and Harleen Deol sealed the win for India with her exceptional half-century from 62 balls.

Both teams fielded 2 debutants

Kashvee Gautam (22-year-old), who impressed the fans with her bowling for Gujarat Giants in the WPL 2025, along with the star of Delhi Capitals, Sree Charani (20-year-old), made their International debut for India in this match. Charani picked up 2 wickets with an economy of 3.25 in today's match.

Sri Lanka also handed debuts to Malki Madara and Piumi Badalge.

India's shield-like batting power 

The Indian batters showcased an amazing quality of batting in this format. Smriti Mandhana, along with Pratika Rawal, provided a good start in the initial overs. They kept the flow of runs going with their bat. Smriti departed at 43 (from 46 balls) while trying to loft the ball over the bowler (Inoka Ranaweera), and wasn't lucky enough to make it through.

Harleen Deol stepped in after the wicket and made no mistakes, adding 48 runs off 71 balls from her bat. Pratika Rawal scored 50 off 62 balls, putting the winning runs on the board for India.

It felt like Indian batters were quite difficult to get out and stood up like solid walls, without losing their wickets. 

Steady headstart for India

India's win has lift up the team's spirit and confidence to another level. This was also a glimpse of the solid form and composure that the players hold in this Tri-series squad. 

In today's match, each bowler had an economy below 5, and the batters were incredible in chasing down the total, without losing many wickets.

The challenge ahead for Sri Lanka 

This defeat against India serves as a reminder for Sri Lanka to assess and improve their shortcomings. They failed to build partnership throughout the game, which led to a low total on the board. Hasini Perera's 30 from 46 balls was the highest score by a Sri Lankan batter in this match. 

Immediate Reflections and Long-term Goals

This being the ODI World Cup year, the immediate reflections for both the teams would be to shape their strategies, set grounds and make effective adjustments with the stage of the Tri-Nation ODI series among India, Sri Lanka, and South Africa.

Score Summary

SL-W: 147 (38.1/39) | Kavisha Dilhari 25; Sneh Rana 8-31-3

IND-W: 149 (29.4/39) | Pratika Rawal 50* (62); Harleen Deol 48* (71)