Women’s Cricket World Cup gets underway today with Sri Lanka taking on India

The 13th edition of the ICC women’s cricket World Cup will commence in Guwahathi today with co-hosts India facing Sri Lanka. This women’s global event comprising eight countries will continue until November 2. A total of 28 matches will be played across the group stage, with all matches to commence at 3pm local time apart from the contest between England and New Zealand on October 26 which will start at an earlier time of 11am (local).

Australia are the most successful team in the history of the Women’s World Cup having won the World Cup on seven occasions, with arch-rival England not far behind them with four title triumphs. New Zealand are the only other team to have had success at the event having won the tournament in 2000, while Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka are on the hunt for their first Women’s World Cup trophy.

There are no groups in the Women’s World Cup, with all teams to play seven matches during the group stage and the top four sides in the standings then progressing to the knockout semi-final stage.

The highest-ranked team during the group stage will play the fourth-ranked team, while the second-ranked and third-ranked sides will face off, with the two winners then moving through to the title decider on November 2.

A total of four venues will host games across India, with ACA Stadium (Guwahati), Holkar Stadium (Indore), ACA-VDCA Stadium (Visakhapatnam) and DY Patil Stadium (Navi Mumbai). R. Premadasa International Stadium in Colombo is the sole venue in Sri Lanka that will be used during the event and is in contention to host the final alongside DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

Pakistan will play all their matches in Colombo as part of a compromise agreement for neutral venues in multi-nation tournaments.

ICC recently announced a massive increase to the prize money for the Women’s World Cup 2025, with the total prize pool amassing a total of $13.88 million (US Dollars). That’s a monumental rise of 297 percent from $3.5 million at the most recent edition of the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand in 2022 and eclipses the $10 million prize pool from the most recent ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India in 2023.

Meanwhile the women’s World Cup curtain raiser game between Sri Lanka and India is going to be a keen tussle today at Guwahathi commencing from 3pm. India last hosted this tournament in 2013 and will be firmly focused on setting up a deep run with some early victories while Sri Lanka led by Chamari Athapaththu have a well-balanced side also paced with youngsters and seniors wanted to make a good challenge in this opening game. Sri Lanka recently did well against India while they won Asia Cup T-20 at Dambulla as well as Sri Lanka did well in the tri series held in Colombo recently and wanted to maintain good momentum once again and skipper Athapaththu said they are expected to go match by match in this major event. India the third ranked team have home advantage in this game but Sri Lanka also looking to do their best with five of their seven league matches set at the R Premadasa Stadium, familiar conditions may offer a small edge but skipper Athapaththu said both India and Sri Lanka have familiar conditions and they don’t mind about this issue and wanted to play positively. Sri Lanka may not be favorites it’s good to play without any pressure, but their hearts, their fight, and the weight of a nation’s hopes make them a force to be reckoned with. Skipper Athapatthu hit brilliant 178 against Australia in Bristol 2017 ICC World Cup carrying the team almost singl-handedly.

In addition she stroked 195 against South Africa in Potchefstroom last year a record chase that made Sri Lanka the first and still the only team to conquer a 300-plus target in women’s cricket and this recent performances gave big boost to the team. But not like those days now the team is not depend solaly on skipper Athapatthu but also youngsters like Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Vishmi Gunaratne also in good form while latest addition to the team off spinner Dewmi Vihanga the 20-year-old player and all these are the plus point for Sri Lanka team.

Meanwhile India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and their team key player opener Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodriguez always strength their batting while Mandhana’s recent form with fastest ODI century by a Indian against Australia gave more confidence to her before this World Cup and she could be the key attraction of the India team. Both India and Sri Lanka wanted to start this World Cup with high note and this is going to battle between Indians batters and Sri Lanka’s bowlers.

The teams

India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (v.c), 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 Gaud. Reserves Tejal Hasabnis, Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra, Minnu Mani, Sayali Satghare.

Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (c), 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. Reserve: Inoshi Fernando.

Sri Lanka’s Women’s World Cup matches: Sept 30. – Sri Lanka/ India at Guwahathi, Oct 4 – Sri Lanka / Australia at Colombo, Oct 11 – Sri Lanka/ England at Colombo, Oct 14 – Sri Lanka /New Zealand at Colombo, Oct 17- Sri Lanka/ South Africa at Colombo, Oct 20 – Sri Lanka / Bangladesh at Navi Mumbai, Oct 24 – Sri Lanka / Pakistan at Colombo.