Deepti Sharma Stars as India Beat Sri Lanka in Women’s World Cup Opener

Deepti Sharma produced an all-round display to inspire India to a 59-run victory over co-hosts Sri Lanka in the rain-affected opening match of the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup in Guwahati on Tuesday. The win, achieved via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method, gave the home side a strong start in front of 22,843 spectators.

India Recover After Collapse

Put into bat, India posted 269 for eight in 47 overs after their innings was shortened by rain. The hosts looked in trouble at 124 for six following a dramatic collapse in which they lost four wickets for just four runs in 11 balls. But Sharma (53) and Amanjot Kaur (57) staged a brilliant rescue act, adding 103 runs for the seventh wicket.

Spinner Inoka Ranaweera was Sri Lanka’s most effective bowler, claiming 4 for 46, including the key scalps of Harleen Deol (48), Jemimah Rodrigues (0) and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (21) in a single over. However, Sri Lanka’s fielding lapses proved costly, with Amanjot surviving four dropped chances before being dismissed by Udeshika Prabodhani. Sneh Rana’s unbeaten 28 added crucial late runs.

Sharma Strikes With the Ball

Sharma then backed up her batting heroics with figures of 3 for 54, removing Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu (43), who had threatened to take the game away in a 52-run partnership with Harshitha Samarawickrama (29).

At 103 for two, Sri Lanka were in contention, but wickets fell regularly thereafter. Nilakshika Silva’s 35 offered brief resistance, but she too was dismissed by Sharma as the visitors were eventually bowled out for 211 in the 46th over.

A Winning Start for the Hosts

Sharma’s performance not only earned India victory but also took her tally of ODI wickets to second on the country’s all-time list, behind Jhulan Goswami.

Reflecting on the win, captain Harmanpreet Kaur praised her team’s resilience:

“It was not an easy game. We know in tournaments every game is high pressure. The way Deepti and Amanjot handled the situation was outstanding to watch. I’m really happy all the girls came together to win this game for the country.”

The match began with a cultural spectacle, as Bollywood singer Shreya Ghoshal performed at the tournament opener, adding to the festive atmosphere of the Women’s World Cup curtain-raiser.