Women's World Cup 2025: India face Sri Lanka in opener
What's the story
The opening match of the 2025 ICC Women's ODI World Cup will be played between India and Sri Lanka at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. India have had a strong run this year despite losing the recent WODI series to Australia at home. They will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur with Smriti Mandhana as her deputy. Meanwhile, Chamari Athapaththu will spearhead a strong Sri Lankan side.
Match details
Pitch report and live streaming
The pitch at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati is usually batting-friendly. While pacers garner movement early on, spinners come into play eventually. The ground that sports 10 pitches has hosted only three internationals (WT20Is) so far, all in 2019. The Women's World Cup can be watched live on Star Sports Network's TV channels in India. Besides, the live streaming will be available on the JioHotstar app and website in India.
Information
Head-to-head record
The head-to-head record between the two nations is stacked heavily in India's favor. They have a 31-3 lead over Sri Lanka in WODIs, losing three. In their last six encounters, India have beaten Sri Lanka five times.
Team India
India Women squad
India squad for Women's ODI World Cup: 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, and Kranti Gaud. Reserves: Tejal Hasabnis, Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra, Minnu Mani, and Sayali Satghare.
Information
Sri Lanka Women squad
SL squad for Women's ODI World Cup: Chamari Athapaththu (captain), 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 Kulasooriya. Reserve: Inoshi Fernando.
Team Sri Lanka
Players to watch out for
Former captain Mithali Raj is India's highest run-scorer in World Cup history, scoring 1,321 runs at 47.17. Current captain Harmanpreet Kaur is the only other Indian with 650-plus runs in WCs (876 at 51.52). Former Indian pacer Jhulan Goswami owns the most wickets in Women's World Cup history. Meanwhile, SL's Chamari Athapaththu has a World Cup average of 39.15. Harshitha Samarawickrama has scored 336 runs at an average of 48 in eight ODIs this year.
Runners-up
India Women: Two-time runners-up
Although India are yet to taste the glory, they have finished as the runner-up twice in the Women's ODI World Cup - first in 2005 and then again in 2017. The team lost to Australia and England, respectively, on the two occasions. The 1997 and 2000 events saw the Women in Blue crash out in the semi-finals. They attained the third-place finish in the 2009 edition, which did not have the semi-final stage.