As the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 kicks off, Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu is optimistic about her team’s chances against hosts India in the tournament opener at ACA Stadium, Guwahati on Tuesday, September 30.
Returning to the World Cup Stage
Sri Lanka are making their return to the World Cup after an eight-year hiatus and are co-hosting this edition alongside India. Despite facing one of the tournament favourites in their opening match, Athapaththu believes her side can start the campaign on a high note.
“Over the past 12 months, we’ve played really good cricket against top teams,” Athapaththu said at the pre-match press conference. “My goal is to ensure we play our best cricket in front of everyone. We don’t want to put too much pressure on ourselves. We need to execute our plans at the right moments, and I know we can win this game against India.”
Momentum From Recent Success
Earlier this year, Sri Lanka hosted a tri-nation series featuring India and South Africa. The team secured wins against both competitors before falling to India in the final. Athapaththu sees those performances as a springboard heading into the World Cup.
“Our preparation has been strong,” she explained. “Even though we haven’t played international games since the tri-series, our domestic seasons were solid. Our youngsters are performing well alongside the seniors, and I believe we are ready to put up a strong show.”
Home Advantage Looms Large
Following their opener in Guwahati, Sri Lanka will return home to R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo, where five of their seven group-stage games will be played. Athapaththu feels familiar conditions could be a decisive factor.
“Definitely, playing five games at home gives us an advantage. We know the conditions better than anyone,” she said. “But we still have to play our best cricket, execute our plans well, and get a good start to the tournament.”
Mixed Warm-Up Results, Positive Outlook
Sri Lanka’s warm-up games yielded mixed results, with a washout against Pakistan followed by a narrow one-run defeat to Bangladesh. Despite this, Athapaththu remains encouraged by her team’s form and confidence heading into the World Cup.
“We’ve been training hard and playing good cricket in the tri-series. Beating South Africa and once against India shows we can compete with the best. Our preparation and mindset are strong, and I hope we can bring our best cricket to this tournament,” she concluded.
The stage is set for a thrilling opening clash, as Athapaththu’s Sri Lanka aim to challenge a formidable Harmanpreet Kaur-led India squad and make a statement at the very start of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025.