New Delhi, August 28: Vishmi Gunaratne made her debut for Sri Lanka at just 17 years old after an impressive domestic cricket career. She has since played 37 ODIs and 59 T20 matches for her country. As a key player in the top order of the Sri Lankan women’s team, Vishmi believes that her early experience has significantly transformed her mental approach to the game.
In an exclusive interview with Sony Sports Network, Vishmi stated, “Starting my international cricket career at a young age taught me patience and adaptability. It motivated me to progress quickly, understand the game better, and adjust to different situations. This experience has helped me mature rapidly as a batter. I’ve learned to be patient, adapt to circumstances, and quickly grasp various situations. As a person, I meet many individuals, learn social skills, and compete against top international teams. I need to mature quickly, understand the conditions, and work hard, and I am doing just that.”
Sri Lanka won the trophy in 2024 by defeating India in front of their home crowd in Dambulla. This time, the team is placed in Group B alongside Bangladesh, host UAE, and newcomer Indonesia.
However, Vishmi emphasized that the team is focusing on setting new expectations rather than dwelling on past successes. She remarked, “Winning in 2024 felt like a dream come true, but as we enter this tournament, we are trying to put that aside. Our preparations have been excellent. We will stick to the strategies we have developed for the tournament. Holding the trophy in our country among our people was truly wonderful. It was a dream for all of us.”
The tournament will be held in Dubai, where another successful campaign could further promote the grassroots development of the sport in the country. Vishmi noted, “Certainly, the victory in 2024 gave our girls a significant boost to play cricket and encouraged girls’ cricket in Sri Lanka. Winning again in this country will uplift our girls. The conditions in Dubai will be similar to those in Sri Lanka, and we have worked on all three departments (batting, bowling, and fielding) during our preparations. We have also practiced our batting under floodlights with Sri Lankan players. We are fully prepared for the tournament.”
Vishmi’s performance in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 was not remarkable, but in July, she scored 123 runs in the second ODI against Pakistan in Hambantota, which proved to be a turning point for her confidence at the crease.
She shared, “That ODI century against Pakistan gave me a lot of confidence in my game. It made me believe that I could contribute to my team by playing long innings and handling pressure well.”
Vishmi’s early development came while opening alongside captain Chamari Athapaththu. Reflecting on that period, she said, “Opening with her was like a dream for a young player like me, and she taught me many things. She always encouraged me to understand the game and manage situations well. I used to play as the first opener, and now the team has given me another role in this game. So, I am working hard on it. Our top order is in good form. Everyone will perform well in this tournament. Our team has improved significantly over the past three years. Many players are stepping up, performing well, and supporting the team during matches. That’s why we call it a team game.”
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