Indian women’s cricket team players during practice session on the eve of their ICC Women’s World Cup match against Sri Lanka in Guwahati on Monday on September 29, 2025.
| Photo Credit: RITU RAJ KONWAR
As you move around the North-Eastern India’s largest city these days, you would not miss Durga Puja. The temples, the streets all wear a festive look, and this celebration of the divine feminine goes late into the night.
The timing, though not quite intentional, is just right for the women’s cricket World Cup. India is taking on Sri Lanka at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Tuesday (September 30, 2025). The opening match was originally scheduled to have been played at Bengaluru, but all the games allotted to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium had to be moved out following the tragic stampede after RCB’s celebration of its maiden IPL triumph.
This is India’s only World Cup game on this ground, where it had played three T20Is against England in 2019. Only six players from that squad have survived; skipper Harmanpreet hadn’t played that series because of an injury.
She is now leading her country for the first time in an ODI World Cup. And she should be determined to get India on a winning start, as the team is presented with probably its best chance till date to win a World Cup.
Harmanpreet is part of a strong Indian batting unit, in which her vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has been a dominant force for some time. This year, the left-handed opener has perhaps been the biggest headache for bowlers; she has notched up four ODI hundreds thus far.
Another good start with her opening partner Pratika Rawat could set up stage for the likes of Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh. With the captain having stated that all the players are fit, the team could be fielding the best possible bowling attack.
Sri Lanka, the co-host, will once again be looking to their greatest warrior in women’s cricket, Chamari Athapaththu, for inspiration. She will need more support from her teammates though against possibly the second strongest side in the competition.
The teams (from):
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (Capt.), Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh, Arundhati Reddy, Sneh Rana, N. Shree Charani and Uma Chetri.
Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (Capt.), 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, and Achini Kulasuriya.
Published – September 29, 2025 09:03 pm IST
