IND Women vs SL Women, ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 Opener – Live Score, Preview & Updates

India Women Eye a Confident Start

With a good blend of mature campaigners and newcomers, the India Women's team will enter this World Cup. Smriti Mandhana's batting as the opening batter will play a critical role in providing rapid momentum. Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma provide stability in the middle order, and Richa Ghosh provides firepower during the death overs.

There is also a variety in the bowling attack. The skills of Renuka Singh to swing the new ball and Radha Yadav to be consistent with the spin will be important in dissecting partnerships. Sneh Rana is a bowling all-rounder, providing Harmanpreet with more options.

India has always been the best in women's cricket in Sri Lanka, but in the stage of the World Cup, it is not about past figures but getting the day. The tone will be crucial in the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, particularly in the critical situations when it is most important to be calm.

Sri Lanka Women’s Determination to Shine

Sri Lanka Women might be underdogs in the opener; however, they come with the fearless spirit of skipper Chamari Athapaththu, who has always been their match-winner. Athapaththu is known to be explosive with the bat, so she can, at times, single-handedly change the game.

Her key support comes from Anushka Sanjeewani behind the stumps, who doubles up as a consistent batter when the situation requires it. Inoka Ranaweera, Udeshika Prabodhani, and Sugandika Kumari are the bowling trio that will seek to ensure that India's strong batting is kept at bay.

Sri Lanka’s main challenge will be handling India’s spinners in the middle overs. Partnerships will also be essential, and a breakdown against quality attacks such as the one by India will soon leave them on the reverse footing.

Tactical Battles to Watch Out For

The opener is expected to be packed with exciting contests across the field:

• Smriti Mandhana vs Udeshika Prabodhani: The Indian opener’s stroke play against left-arm pace will be a key highlight early on.
   
• Athapaththu vs Renuka Singh: A battle between Sri Lanka’s star batter and India’s lead pacer could decide the tone of the innings.
   
• Spin Middle Overs: Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav against Sri Lanka’s middle order will be fascinating. On the flip side, Ranaweera’s left-arm spin could test India’s middle order under pressure.
   
• Death Overs: India’s Arundhati Reddy and Renuka Singh are expected to finish tightly, while Sri Lanka will look to Achini Kulasuriya to prevent India from exploding late.

Guwahati Crowd and Ticket Prices

The air is already thick in the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. Low ticket rates have guaranteed a good attendance of locals, and people are likely to throng the stadium to support both teams. ICC has consciously tried to ensure that tickets are readily available, and therefore, this World Cup is bound to record the highest number of women attending matches.

The colorful spectacle of Guwahati will not only support the Indian team but also the Sri Lankan team, and will help to create a festival kind of cricket.

Why This Match Matters

The India vs Sri Lanka Women's World Cup opener is more than just the first game of the tournament. For India, a win here is about building confidence and asserting their title ambitions. For Sri Lanka, an upset would set the tone for a campaign of surprises.

India’s depth in batting and bowling makes them favorites, but Sri Lanka’s unpredictability — especially under Athapaththu — cannot be underestimated. The first game often defines the momentum of a tournament, and both teams know the significance of starting strong.

Looking Back at Recent Form

India Women head to the Women's World Cup with a mixed performance in the Asia Cup, where their batters sometimes failed when under pressure. But their bowlers never failed to perform, especially Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma, who were among the high performers.

On their part, Sri Lanka Women shocked most people in their Asia Cup appearances, as they fought off a tight victory against the more formidable opposition. They are also dangerous competitors, even to favorites such as India, because they can punch above their weight, especially under the leadership of Athapaththu.

Final Word

In Guwahati, the stage is prepared to have a high-paced battle between the India Women and the Sri Lankan Women. India can indeed enter with the label of favorites, but the opening of the World Cup is a platform where surprises are likely to emerge. Fans are guaranteed to see a violent beginning, spin-filled middle overs, and a light-filled, exciting ending.

It will be watched around the globe as the ICC Women's World Cup 2025 live score India vs Sri Lanka, but to the people of Guwahati, it will be part of history, the beginning of a new era in women's cricket.