On 30th September 2025, the Barsapara Cricket Stadium witnessed the 13th edition of the ICC Women’s World Cup, a thriller between the hosts, India, and Sri Lanka. With Sri Lanka winning the toss, India was asked to bat first by the Sri Lankan skipper Charmari Athapaththu. Team India ensured that it gave a roller coaster ride to its audience with the havoc in the top orders, revivals in the middle, and a heroic victory with a collective bowling effort. India has started its 2025 World Cup campaign with a convincing 59-run win under the DLS method over Sri Lanka.
India’s Batting: The Roller-Coaster
India’s batting started off on a strong but cautious note against the disciplined bowling attack of Sri Lanka. With the reliable opener of India, Smriti Madhana, departing back to the pavilion with only depositing 8 runs, Pratika Rawal took the responsibility and held the ground with a steady 37, while Harleen Deol looked determined, giving a solid boost of 48 runs to the team before being undone by flight and spin.
The game turned into a series of quick collapses in the middle overs. With Inoka Ranweera, Sri Lanka’s veteran spinner, spinning the ball in her favor, making it difficult for the middle order to sustain. India’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur managed to contribute 21 runs before getting edged behind. While Jemimah Rodrigues was bowled on the very first ball. Richa Ghosh made a small cameo by giving 2 runs, breaking a line of sweat among the Indian fans.
When India was in the middle of praying for a revival, Amanjot Kaur and Deepti Sharma came to the rescue; they wove a brilliant partnership. Amanjot deposited 56 crucial runs with her flair and grit. Deepti, on the other hand, anchored the side with her composed 51 runs. Their partnership certainly disturbed the momentum of Sri Lanka, giving the required pushback to India.
The 250 mark was crossed with Sneh Rana’s contribution in the lower order. Despite Sri Lanka’s dominance on the pitch in the middle overs, India still managed to capitalize on the few dropped catches, eventually closing the game at 269/8 in 47 overs.
India’s Bowling: The Arc of Redemption
India took the ball in their hand with the intention of defending their target of 269 with a disciplined and composed approach. Deepti Sharma again took the spotlight not just with her bat but also with the ball, proving why she was later crowned as the Player of the Match. Sharma, with her right-arm off break, crashed the bails of Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu, along with taking another two crucial wickets of Kavisha Dilhari and Anushka Sanjeewani.
Sneha Rana and Nallapureddy Charani also chipped in, supporting Sharma by striking two wickets each. Rana surprised the middle order with her variations, not giving them the desired momentum. While the lower order was frustrated by Charani’s nagging lengths. Moreover, Kranti Goud kept the powerplay and death overs in check. Pratika Rawal, apart from her steady 37, also sent the Sri Lankan players back to the pavilion by picking up the final wicket and wrapping the game for Sri Lanka at 211.
The decision of rotating the bowling options played in favor of Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, as each bowler chipped in to the cause. The bowlers were backed by the sharp fielding efforts, which also highlight Smriti Mandhana’s smart catch at long-on.
India Starting the World Cup 2025 Campaign on a High Note
India’s ability to calm their own and the audience’s nerves during the crucial moments certainly paid off and made all the difference. With a 59-run victory, Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and her team certainly started the Women’s World Cup campaign on a high note, sending a strong message that when a woman wants something, she gets it, and in this case, it was all eleven of them striving to make it happen.