New Zealand women captain Sophie Devine will not take part in the series against Sri Lanka in March as she continues to prioritise her well-being, the country’s cricket board said on Monday. The news follows Devine’s decision last month to withdraw from the Super Smash and the 2025 Women’s Premier League after receiving professional advice. Liz Green, NZC’s Head of Women’s High Performance, reiterated the importance of player well-being. “We are fully supportive of Sophie’s decision to not take part in the upcoming series,” said Green.

“Player well-being is our highest priority and it’s important Sophie feels fit and well before returning to professional cricket,” Green said.

The White Ferns’ series with Sri Lanka starts on March 4, featuring three One-Day Internationals and two T20Is.

As captain, Sophie Devine played a key role in helping the White Ferns win last year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE in October.

The all-rounder is on the cusp of a milestone, having amassed 3990 runs in Women’s ODIs, averaging 31.66 with the bat in international 50-over cricket.

Since winning the T20 World Cup with New Zealand in October 2024, Devine has been part of the ODIs against India, played in the WBBL for Perth Scorchers, and also played the ODI series against Australia in late December.

Devine, part of RCB’s title-winning campaign in 2024, was retained ahead of the 2025 auction. In the 2024 season, she scored 136 runs and took six wickets in ten matches.

After her withdrawal from WPL 2025, RCB picked Heather Graham as Devine’s replacements.

New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr made history on Tuesday by becoming the first Kiwi recipient of the prestigious Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, earning the title of ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year for her exceptional performances in 2024. The 24-year-old stood out among her peers, surpassing Laura Wolvaardt, Chamari Athapaththu, and Annabel Sutherland to claim the top honour in women’s cricket. Kerr is not only the first New Zealander to win the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy but also the first Kiwi to be recognised as ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year in any category.

Throughout the year, Kerr demonstrated her prowess as a world-class all-rounder, excelling in every facet of the game. Her outstanding fielding repeatedly lifted New Zealand, while her skill as a leg-spinner established her as one of the most dangerous strike bowlers in the world. Kerr was often the White Ferns’ go-to match-winner with the ball.

With the bat, she was a cornerstone of New Zealand’s lineup, capable of playing expansive innings to capitalise on strong starts or anchoring the innings when the top order faltered.

First introduced in 2017, the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy has been awarded to just three players prior to Kerr — Australia’s Ellyse Perry, India’s Smriti Mandhana, and England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt, each of whom has won the award twice. 

A rampaging India extended their unbeaten run at the U19 Women’s T20 Asia Cup as they reached the final with a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka in their last Super Four contest here Friday. Aayushi Shukla emerged the wrecker-in-chief with a four-wicket haul as the left-arm spinner conceded only 10 runs in her four overs to help India restrict Sri Lanka to 98 for nine after skipper Niki Prasad opted to bowl. Parunika Sisodia, who also bowls left-arm spin, chipped in with two scalps. Such was India’s domination that only two Sri Lankan batters — Sumudu Nisansala (21) and captain Manudi Nanayakkara (33) — could manage double-digit scores.

The Lankan top-order fared poorly with Sanjana Kavindi (9) and Hiruni Hansika (2) staying together for a mere 12 balls.

A 22-run fifth-wicket stand between Nanayakkara and Nisansala was the best for the Lankans. They raised hopes of a rival but the latter’s run out punctured all their hopes.

India did not have the best of starts with opener Ishwari Asware running herself out in the third ball of the chase without bothering the scorer. 

Left-arm spinner Chamodi Praboda (3/16) led the Sri Lankan fightback by dismissing three Indian batters but opener G Kamalini (28) and Gongadi Trisha (32) ensured that the small run-chase was completed.

Once they departed, Mithila Vinod, batting at number seven, carried the side home with her unbeaten 17-run cameo. India overhauled the target with 31 balls to spare. India had thrashed Pakistan by nine wickets in their tournament-opener and then got the better of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka while the contest against Nepal did not yield any result.

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka: 98 for 9 in 20 overs. (M Nanayakkara 33, S Nisansala 21; A Shukla 4/10) India: 102 for 6 in 14.5 overs. (G Trisha 32, G Kamalini 28; C Praboda 3/16).

“It was one of those days when I was in the zone,” said India captain Harmanpreet Kaur after smashing her fastest fifty in T20 Internationals in Dubai on Wednesday. Harmanpreet, who has been battling inconsistency, was at her belligerent best against Sri Lanka in a Women’s T20 World Cup match. She completed her half-century off 27 balls and on the last delivery of India’s innings. Her previous fastest fifty — off 29 balls — also came against Sri Lanka back in 2018.

India won the game by 82 runs after posting 172 for three, the highest total of the World Cup thus far.

“It was one of those days where I was in my zone, I was thinking positively and hitting anything that was in my zone. These wickets aren’t very true for batting.

“You have to keep rotating strike and only when the ball is in the zone can you swing your bat,” the India captain said post the big win.

The 98-run stand between Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma laid the platform for a big total.

“We just wanted to go with the momentum. Smriti and Shafali gave us a very good start. We discussed that, we didn’t want to throw our wickets away. That’s exactly what the openers did and gave us that platform.

“Jemi and I just wanted to get 7-8 runs an over, and we just went with the flow,” added Harmanpreet, who was back to batting at number three after coming in at four against Pakistan. 

The Indian women’s cricket team kept their T20 World Cup 2024 semi-final progression hopes alive with a comprehensive victory against Sri Lanka. Skipper Harmanpreet was the team’s wrecker-in-chief with the bat, as India thumped the islanders by 82 runs. The result took India’s Net Run Rate to +0.576, slotting in at the second spot, behind group leaders Australia. Though India find themselves at the runners-up spot, they need to get the better of Australia next if they are to seal their spot in the final 4. A loss is likely to make things quite complicated for them.

If India Beat Australia:

India have to win their final match of the group stage, against Australia, otherwise, their semi-final qualification chances will not be in their own hands. If India do go on to beat the Aussies, the Women in Blue, Australia, and New Zealand will be locked on 6 points each (3 wins out of 4 matches). In that case, Net Run Rate will decide which team goes through to the knockouts. At present, India have a better NRR than New Zealand.

If Australia Beat India:

If India lose to Australia, their semi-final hopes will be at the mercy of other teams. In this scenario, Australia will go through to the final 4 as the group leaders, with 4 wins in 4 matches. For India to still progress as runners-up, Australia would need to beat Pakistan while New Zealand would need to lose at least one of their final two group games – against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

With Pakistan also accumulating 4 points in the process, their NRR should be lower than India’s for Harmanpreet Kaur & Co. to go through to the next round. New Zealand are also in a similar boat, but their NRR is quite inferior to India at present. Hence, the chances of them toppling Harmanpreet’s side are slim.

India vs Sri Lanka Women’s T20 World Cup, Live Streaming: Team India will be squaring off against Sri Lanka in a must-win match at the Women’s T20 World Cup in Dubai on Wednesday. It has not been smooth sailing for the Indians in the showpiece event so far, having lost to New Zealand by 58 runs in their tournament-opener and then scampering home in 18.5 overs against arch-rivals Pakistan while chasing a modest 105. India’s main problem in the tournament so far is the performance of their batters, especially the explosive opening combination of Shafali Verma and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana.

To make matters worse for India, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who scored 15 and 29 retired hurt, is doubtful for the match against Sri Lanka after suffering a neck injury while batting against Pakistan. The likes of Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh too need to step up with the bat and share the burden of responsibility.

When will the India vs Sri Lanka Women’s T20 World Cup match be played?

The India vs Sri Lanka Women’s T20 World Cup match will be played on Wednesday, October 9.

Where will the India vs Sri Lanka Women’s T20 World Cup match be played?

The India vs Sri Lanka Women’s T20 World Cup match will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.

What time will the India vs Sri Lanka Women’s T20 World Cup match start?

The India vs Sri Lanka Women’s T20 World Cup match will start at 7:30 PM IST. Toss for the game will take place at 7 PM IST.

Where will the live telecast of the India vs Sri Lanka Women’s T20 World Cup match be available?

The India vs Sri Lanka Women’s T20 World Cup match will be telecast live on Star Sports Network.

Where will the live streaming of the India vs Sri Lanka Women’s T20 World Cup match be available?

The India vs Sri Lanka Women’s T20 World Cup match will be streamed live on Disney+ Hotstar app and website.

(All the details are as per the information provided by the broadcaster)