India, Dec. 22 -- Still basking in the glow of the ODI World Cup glory, the Indian women's cricket team began the next chapter of their white-ball journey in emphatic fashion in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.

The opening match of the five-game T20I series against Sri Lanka, billed as a crucial stepping stone towards the T20 World Cup in England in June-July, was less a contest and more a statement of confidence from the hosts. Carrying the momentum of their World Cup triumph last month, India eased into the shortest format, showing calm authority.

The result was a commanding eight-wicket victory, underlining that their preparations for the next global event are well and truly in motion. After restricting Sri Lanka to 121/6, India, led by the ...