Vizag roars for ‘Women in Blue’ as they triumph in first T20 match against Sri Lanka

A lively and enthusiastic atmosphere prevailed at the Dr YSR ACA VDCA International Cricket Stadium, in Visakhapatnam on Sunday, as enthusiastic cricket lovers gathered to witness the first T20 International match between India Women and Sri Lanka Women. Though the stadium was not completely packed, the turnout was impressive.

Spectators were seen sporting blue jerseys, waving the National Flag and passionately cheering for the ‘Women in Blue’. Some fans travelled from across Andhra Pradesh, including Kakinada, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam, while a few even made the journey from neighbouring Odisha to support the Indian team. Notably, a significant number of girls and women were seen in attendance.

Many young fans were seen holding placards that said: “Vizag welcomes World Champions,” while others proudly displayed messages expressing admiration for star players such as Smriti Mandanna, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues and Andhra Pradesh’s own Sree Charani, who received a warm applause whenever she was in action.

The crowd’s excitement was further fuelled by India’s dominant performance, following their comprehensive victory in the first T20 match. Spectators lauded the disciplined and effective bowling spells of Arundhati Reddy, Deepti Sharma, Vaishnavi Sharma and Sree Charani, who played a crucial role in restricting Sri Lanka.

The stands erupted when Smriti Mandanna and Jemimah Rodrigues played elegant shots and struck classic boundaries, sending fans into a frenzy. Many spectators captured these memorable moments on their mobile phones, eagerly sharing photos and videos on social media as players approached the boundary ropes.

Outside the stadium, the festive mood continued with numerous stalls selling the Indian team jerseys, caps and the flags.

In a heartwarming initiative, Commissioner of Police Shankabratha Bagchi arranged for 60 girl children from various NGOs to watch their first ever live international match. Experiencing a live international game for the first time, the young girls expressed immense joy and gratitude to the city police for their gesture.