A New Chapter Begins: India vs Sri Lanka in Women’s World Cup Opener

A New Chapter Begins: India vs Sri Lanka in Women’s World Cup Opener

As the Women’s World Cup is at its height, India’s training was relaxed, confident, and sharp. Bowling coach Avishkar Salvi tried Rana’s offspin grip, only for her to show him how it’s really done. Kranti Goud bowled with rhythm and tackled match-like situations with ease. The team looked ready and settled.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka had a quieter, more focused session. They began with catching drills and then moved to the nets. But it wasn’t all serious Inoka Ranaweera playfully teased young pacer Malki Madara about trapping Hasini Perera lbw, while Sugandika Kumari joked with Dewmi Vihanga about whose offspin grip was better.

Two teams, two different styles. But one thing was clear: this World Cup isn’t about teams trying to find their rhythm. It’s about teams arriving prepared and knowing what they want.

Back in 2022, the pandemic had disrupted schedules and limited match practice. Sri Lanka hadn’t even qualified and hadn’t played an ODI in three years. Now, they come in with 31 games under their belt. India has been the busiest, playing 38 matches since the last edition, including 14 this year.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur summed it up:

“We’ve played a lot more ODI cricket since the last T20 World Cup. We’ve won most of those games, and that’s given us confidence. This group has played together for years. There’s a lot more clarity now.”

And you can see that clarity not just in stats, but in how players carry themselves, joke around, walk into the nets, and finish their spells. This World Cup doesn’t start from scratch. It starts with momentum already in motion.

Main focus on Jemimah Rodrigues and Udeshika Prabodhani

Jemimah Rodrigues has already played 51 ODIs, but the upcoming match against Sri Lanka will be her first-ever appearance in a 50-over World Cup. A natural top-order batter, she’s adapted smoothly to India’s middle order. Earlier this year, she scored her maiden ODI century and proved her finishing skills in the tri-series in Sri Lanka and the England tour. With a flat pitch expected at the ACA Stadium, Jemimah will be keen to make her debut count.

On the Sri Lankan side, experienced left-arm pacer Udeshika Prabodhani will be crucial with the new ball. Her ability to swing it and stay tight during powerplay overs makes her a key threat especially to India’s right-hand opener Pratika Rawal, who’ll need to watch out for those inswingers.

The only concern? Prabodhani hasn’t played an ODI since August 2024. But her warm-up game numbers 2 wickets for 26 runs in 6 overs, including two maidens suggest she’s ready to deliver.

Team news: Amanjot could return

Harmanpreet confirmed that the entire squad is fit, which could pave the way for Amanjot Kaur's return to the XI after recovering from a back injury. That would likely mean only one of Sneh Rana or Radha Yadav makes the final cut. While Amanjot did not bowl in either of the warm-up games, on the eve of the match, she bowled a short spell and then spent some time batting in the nets.

India (probable): Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), 5 Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur/Radha Yadav, Sneh Rana, Kranti Goud, Renuka Singh.

Sri Lanka (probable): Hasini Perera, Chamari Athapaththu (c), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kavisha Dilhari, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Nilakshika Silva, Sugandika Kumari, Inoka Ranaweera, Malki Madara/Achini Kulasuriya, Udeshika Prabodhani.

Stats and trivia

- The ACA Stadium in Guwahati will become the 55th venue in India to host a women’s ODI.

- Kavisha Dilhari leads Sri Lanka’s wicket charts since the 2022 World Cup with 26 scalps.

- ?? Three Indian bowlers have gone past that mark: Deepti Sharma – 59 wickets, Renuka Singh – 35 wickets, Sneh Rana – 27 wickets.

- For the first time since 2016, Chamari Athapaththu isn’t Sri Lanka’s top run-scorer in a calendar year.

- That honour goes to Harshitha Samarawickrama with 336 runs. Athapaththu is currently fifth.

- Smriti Mandhana has smashed 2100 runs since the last ODI World Cup – the most by any batter in the world.

- Next best? Laura Wolvaardt with 1736 runs.

- India have lost only three ODIs to Sri Lanka – but one of those defeats came earlier this year.