The Indian women’s cricket team stepped onto the field with heavy hearts and black armbands on April 27th (Sunday), paying tribute to the victims of the horrific terror attack that rocked Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
The brutal assault, carried out by The Resistance Front, left 26 innocent civilians dead, including foreign nationals, several still critically injured, and has plunged the entire nation into mourning. The cricketing community, deeply affected by the tragedy, stood in solidarity with the grieving families as India’s players silently honored those who lost their lives.
The somber atmosphere at the match was further marked by a rain delay that pushed back the start of play. Scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM IST, the first ODI of the Tri-Series between India and Sri Lanka finally got underway at 12:00 PM IST after a two-hour interruption. The black armbands worn by the Indian team served as a powerful reminder that cricket, while a source of joy, also carries the weight of a nation’s emotions.
As India’s women’s team resumed international cricket after a gap, eyes are now firmly set on the looming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. Their preparations are picking up momentum, with squad selections reflecting a balanced mix of seasoned stars and promising newcomers. The focus has been to regain match sharpness, build combinations, and fine-tune strategies for the challenges that await later this year.
The journey to this point had seen India dominate Ireland in a clinical 3-0 series sweep earlier this year in January. Smriti Mandhana had led the team in the absence of regular skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, with standout performances from players like Pratika Rawal — who topped the run charts with 310 runs — and Deepti Sharma, who led the wicket-taking tally with 7 scalps. The Ireland series provided crucial match experience after a long competitive break, helping the team re-establish rhythm ahead of bigger battles.
Yet, between that triumphant series and today’s poignant match, a noticeable gap in fixtures had presented its own set of challenges. Now, with the World Cup drawing closer, India is seeking to rebuild momentum and sharpen its competitive edge through the ongoing Tri-Series.
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