A Chance To Rewrite History
The year 2025 has seen several sporting teams turn past heartbreaks into trophy triumphs. For India’s women’s cricket team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, the opportunity to do the same is finally here — a chance to shed the burden of history and deliver the nation’s first senior women’s global championship. Their journey begins on Tuesday with the World Cup opener against Sri Lanka at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati.
The first match is always crucial as it sets the tone for the tournament. We have played against Sri Lanka recently and are familiar with their batting and bowling strengths. Keeping that in mind, we are preparing ourselves accordingly.
Batting Firepower Fuels India’s Hopes
India enters the tournament as one of the frontrunners, bolstered by a dynamic batting lineup. Smriti Mandhana, fresh off a blistering 50-ball century against Australia, headlines the order. She will be complemented by captain Harmanpreet, all-rounder Deepti Sharma, the versatile Jemimah Rodrigues, and the aggressive Richa Ghosh.
The game against Sri Lanka will be our first, and naturally, there will be expectations around it. But for us, the key is to stay focused on our processes and not get distracted by external pressure. We have played good cricket over the last 12 months, and it’s important to back ourselves and have faith in our abilities.
The hosts, however, face lingering concerns around their bowling depth and fielding sharpness, both of which were exposed during a recent 2-1 series defeat to Australia. Addressing these gaps quickly will be vital if India are to capitalise on home advantage.
More Than Just A Trophy At Stake
A World Cup win on home soil could be transformative for women’s cricket in India. Beyond the silverware, it would drive grassroots investment, strengthen the push for pay parity with men’s cricketers, and secure regular slots for women’s matches at premier venues.
Above all, a triumph would serve as a watershed moment of inspiration for millions of young girls across the country — proof that dreams of cricketing glory are possible.
Sri Lanka: Dangerous Underdogs
Opponents Sri Lanka, led by the seasoned Chamari Athapaththu — likely featuring in her last ODI World Cup — arrive as underdogs but with a reputation for giant-killing. Their stunning upset of South Africa at the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup remains fresh in memory.
Athapaththu, Harshitha Samarawickrama, and Vishmi Gunaratne will be central to their batting hopes, while Nilakshika Silva and Kavisha Dilhari provide support. Their bowling, however, has struggled for consistency against top-tier opposition, and will be tested against India’s stacked lineup.
Match details
• When: Tuesday, September 30, 3:00 PM IST
• Where: Assam Cricket Association Stadium, Guwahati
• Watch: Star Sports Network (TV), JioHotstar (Streaming)
Squads
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, Renuka Singh Thakur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Goud.
Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu, Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunarathne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kaveesha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani, Imesha Dulani, Dewmi Vihanga, Piumi Wathsala, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandika Dasanayaka, Udeshika Prabodani, Malki Madara, Achini Kulasooriya.
