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India (w)
Sri Lanka (w)
The ICC Womenβs World Cup will begin with the opening T20I between India Women and Sri Lanka Women at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. India will start the tournament as clear favourites, especially with home advantage and the support of their crowd.
Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the side, and despite coming off a series loss against Australia Women, India will look to make a strong start. They have won 2 of their last 5 ODI matches and will aim to better the momentum coming into this match.
Sri Lanka Women, led by Chamari Athapaththu, will also enter the tournament with 2 wins in their last 5 ODIs. They last featured in a Tri-Series final, which India won. In head-to-head contests, India has dominated with 4 wins from the last 5 matches, while Sri Lanka has managed just 1. Indiaβs wins have come both while defending and chasing, showing balance in their approach.
With both teams coming in with strong in-form batters, this match has strong chances of producing a century, especially for Smriti Mandhana.
The betting tip is...
Any player to score a century.
56 %
44 %
India (w)Sri Lanka (w)India Women will rely on Smriti Mandhana to give them a strong start, as she has scored 636 runs in her last 10 matches at an average of 63.6, including back-to-back hundreds against Australia. She will be supported by young opener Pratika Rawal.
Jemimah Rodrigues will strengthen the top order at number three, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur remains a crucial batter in this format. Deepti Sharma, with 370 runs in 10 matches at an impressive average of 74.0, will add depth along with Harleen Deol and wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh in the middle order.
In the bowling department, Sneh Rana stands out with 18 wickets in her last 10 matches at an economy of 5.07. Kranti Goud adds balance with 14 wickets in 7 matches at 5.86. Renuka Singh and Radha Yadav bring valuable experience, while Deepti Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur strengthen the all-round options.
Mandhana, Rawal and Harmanpreet are the key batters.
Predicted Lineup: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Kranti Goud, Renuka Singh, Radha Yadav.
Chamari Athapaththu has taken 12 wickets in her last 9 matches at an economy of 4.76 and remains the teamβs most experienced batter. Harshitha Samarawickrama has been in excellent touch with 489 runs in her last 10 matches at an average of 61.13 and will be a key figure in the top order.
Kavisha Dilhari adds stability with 260 runs in 8 matches at an average of 37.14, while vice-captain Anushka Sanjeewani will handle wicketkeeping duties.
In bowling, Dewmi Vihanga has made a big impact with 11 wickets in just 4 matches at an economy of 5.31. Sugandika Kumari and Achini Kulasuriya will bring experience, while Inoka Ranaweera and Udeshika Prabodhani strengthen the attack.
Athapaththu, Samarawickrama and Dilhari are the key batters.
Predicted Lineup: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Imesha Dulani, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kavisha Dilhari, Hasini Perera, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Dewmi Vihanga, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandika Kumari, Udeshika Prabodhani.
This match will likely see some big scores with both teams bringing strong batters in form. For India, Smriti Mandhana is coming in outstanding touch with 2 centuries and a fifty in her last 3 matches, all against Australia.
She also scored a century in the last meeting against Sri Lanka, which makes her a major threat again. Alongside her, players like Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol and Harmanpreet Kaur have also scored fifties recently, showing solid depth in Indiaβs batting.
Sri Lanka will rely on Harshitha Samarawickrama, who has been very consistent, and captain Chamari Athapaththu, who can change the game on her day. With so many in-form batters from both sides, the chances of a big individual score in this contest look very strong.
