The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 kicks off on September 30, with hosts India taking on co-hosts Sri Lanka in the opening encounter at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati. The much-awaited clash begins at 3:00 PM IST, setting the tone for an exciting tournament ahead.
Form Guide – India
India enters the tournament on the back of a demanding build-up against world champions Australia. Their campaign began with a narrow defeat in the first ODI despite fluent fifties from Rawal, Mandhana, and Harleen Deol. The side bounced back strongly as Mandhana’s 117 and disciplined spells from Goud (3/28) and Sharma (2/24) powered them to a record 102-run victory.
The series finale turned into a run-fest, where Australia’s 412 was met with an electrifying chase led by Mandhana (125 off 63), Harmanpreet (72 off 35), and Sharma (72 off 58). Though they fell 43 short, the fearless batting left a lasting statement.
In warm-ups, India endured a crushing 152-run defeat to England but showed resilience in their final outing, scripting a four-wicket win over New Zealand to find momentum at the right time.
Form Guide – Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s road to the tournament has been more turbulent. Their first warm-up against Pakistan was washed out, and in the second, they stumbled to a heartbreaking one-run defeat against Bangladesh, exposing concerns around finishing games under pressure.
Earlier in May, they featured in the Tri-Nation series alongside India and South Africa. Across four matches, they recorded notable wins over both sides but faltered when it mattered most, losing to India in the final by 97 runs. Their journey read: a 9-wicket defeat to India, a 5-wicket victory over South Africa, a 3-wicket triumph against India, followed by a 76-run defeat to South Africa, before that final loss.
Bright spots still shone through, with Harshitha Samarawickrama amassing 203 runs in 5 matches and Dewmi Vihanga claiming 11 wickets in 4 games.
Head-to-Head:
The rivalry between these two nations has been strikingly one-sided over the years.
- Total Matches – 35
- India Women Wins – 31
- Sri Lanka Women Wins – 3
India’s dominance is evident, yet 2025 has shown that Sri Lanka are capable of breaking through. The two sides have already clashed three times this year: India emerged victorious by nine wickets and 97 runs in two contests, but Sri Lanka scripted a memorable three-wicket triumph that remains fresh in memory ahead of this World Cup opener.
With India’s depth and firepower tested in recent high-scoring battles, and Sri Lanka’s flashes of resilience hinting at upset potential, the Guwahati showdown promises not just the beginning of the tournament but also another chapter in a rivalry rich with contrasting narratives.
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