Post by : Rameen Ariff

India’s Women’s Cricket Team opened their 2025 World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka in Guwahati at the Barsapara Stadium, with Sri Lanka winning the toss and choosing to bowl first. The match marked Sri Lanka’s return to the ICC Women’s World Cup after missing the 2022 edition. India, playing at home and seen as favourites, fielded a spin-heavy attack, including three spinners and two pacers. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and star batter Smriti Mandhana led the team, aiming for a strong start in the tournament.

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu expressed confidence in her bowling unit, noting the pitch was suitable for batting but expected dew to play a role later. India’s openers started cautiously, with Smriti Mandhana scoring 8 runs off 10 balls before being dismissed by Udeshika Prabodhani in the third over, giving Sri Lanka an early breakthrough. Pratika Rawal remained at the crease with 5 runs. Early boundaries from Mandhana had kept India’s scoring steady at 13/0 after three overs before the first wicket fell.

Both teams are eager to set the tone for their World Cup campaigns, with India targeting their maiden ICC Women’s World Cup title on home soil, while Sri Lanka seeks to make a strong comeback after their previous absence. The match continues to draw attention for its competitive edge, promising cricket fans an exciting start to the tournament.

Playing XI for India included Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Kranti Goud, and Shree Charani. Sri Lanka fielded Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Achini Kulasuriya, Sugandika Kumari, Udeshika Prabodhani, and Inoka Ranaweera.

This opening match has set the tone for the Women’s World Cup 2025, highlighting key players and early strategies, and cricket fans are watching closely as India looks to assert dominance on home turf.

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