India’s Resilient Batting Holds Firm
India began their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 campaign on a high note, defeating Sri Lanka by 59 runs (DLS method) in Guwahati. The home side, however, faced a tense middle-order wobble, losing four wickets for just four runs and slipping to 124/6 in the 27th over.
Amid the pressure, Amanjot Kaur walked in and, alongside Deepti Sharma, anchored a crucial partnership. The duo stitched together a 103-run stand, showcasing India’s batting depth and setting the platform for a first-up victory in the 50-over tournament.
Kaur Credits Calm and Partnership
Amanjot, who scored 57 off 56 balls, credited the win to belief in the process and trust in her batting partner.
“I knew that Deepti was with me,” Kaur said post-match.
“We can make a long partnership. The wicket was a bit sticky and moving, so as long as we played carefully, we knew we could get a decent total. I enjoyed the chance to bat and make a contribution.”
Kaur emphasized the importance of patience and supporting the team:
“Even if you play slowly, it’s not wasted because the next batter benefits from it. The key is putting runs on the board to defend later.”
Eyes on the Big Clash with Pakistan
With a win secured, India now turns its focus to Sunday’s high-stakes game against Pakistan in Colombo. Kaur stressed a step-by-step approach for the tournament:
“We’re taking it game by game. Day one went well, and now we aim to have eight more good days.”
Positives for Sri Lanka
Despite the loss, Sri Lanka will take encouragement from individual and team performances. Inoka Ranaweera, who took a match-high 4/46 in nine overs, highlighted the positives:
“We bowled well, and we had a solid partnership while batting. These are things to build on as we move forward.”
Sri Lanka will face reigning champions Australia in their next fixture on Saturday in Colombo, setting up another challenging contest.
Squads to Watch
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh, Kranti Gaud, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia, Sneh Rana
Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunarathne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi De Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani, Imesha Dulani, Dewmi Vihanga, Piumi Wathsala, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandika Kumari, Udeshika Prabodani, Malki Madara, Achini Kulasooriya