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The 2025 Women’s ODI Tri-Series kicks off today, April 27, with a high-stakes opener between Sri Lanka and India at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The match begins at 10:00 am local time and serves as a crucial tune-up for both sides ahead of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup later this year.
India, ranked third in the ICC Women’s ODI standings, enter the series in formidable form, having won their last five ODIs. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, the squad boasts a potent mix of experience and emerging talent. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana is coming off a record-breaking year, including becoming the fastest Indian woman to reach 4,000 ODI runs and scoring her 10th ODI century in January 2025. All-rounder Deepti Sharma, who claimed 30 wickets in the past year, will be pivotal with both bat and ball.
Sri Lanka, ranked seventh, will rely heavily on their captain Chamari Athapaththu, the nation’s leading run-scorer in both ODIs and T20Is. Athapaththu’s aggressive batting style and leadership will be crucial against a strong Indian side. Supporting her are key players like Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari, who provide stability in the batting lineup. The bowling attack, spearheaded by Inoka Ranaweera and Oshadi Ranasinghe, will need to be at their best to contain India’s formidable batting order.
Historically, India have dominated this matchup, winning 29 of the 32 ODIs played between the two sides. However, Sri Lanka’s recent triumph in the Women’s Asia Cup, where they defeated India in the final, adds an intriguing layer to this contest.
Women’s ODI tri-series: Match 1
- Date and Time: April 26; 10:00 am IST / 04:30 am GMT
- Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
R. Premadasa Stadium Pitch Report:
The pitch at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo is renowned for its spin-friendly nature, particularly as matches progress. Initially, batters may find conditions favourable with consistent bounce and pace, allowing for fluent stroke play. However, as the game advances, the surface tends to deteriorate, offering significant assistance to spinners. The emergence of cracks and variable bounce can challenge batters, making shot selection crucial. Historically, the average first innings score in ODIs at this venue hovers around 231, with teams batting first securing victories more often than those chasing.
SL-W vs IN-W Dream11 Prediction Picks:
- Wicketkeepers: Anushka Sanjeewani, Richa Ghosh
- Batters: Harshitha Samarawickrama, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Pratika Rawal
- All-rounders: Chamari Athapaththu, Deepti Sharma, Kavisha Dilhari
- Bowler: Arundhati Reddy
SL-W vs IN-W Dream11 Prediction Captain and Vice-Captain:
- Choice 1: Smriti Mandhana (c), Chamari Athapaththu (vc)
- Choice 2: Harshitha Samarawickrama (c), Pratika Rawal (vc)
Also READ: Sri Lanka’s best XI for the Women’s ODI tri-series against India and South Africa
SL-W vs IN-W Dream11 Prediction Backups:
Inoka Ranaweera, Kashvee Gautam, Sugandika Kumari, Sneh Rana
SL-W vs IN-W Dream11 Team for today’s match (April 26, 04:30 am GMT):
Squads:
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Yastika Bhatia (WK), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Kashvee Gautam, Sneh Rana, Arundhati Reddy, Tejal Hasabnis, Sree Charani, Shuchi Upadhyay
Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Nilakshi Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Anushka Sanjeewani, Hasini Perera, Piumi Wathsala, Manudi Nanayakkara, Dewmi Vihanga, Inoka Ranaweera, Inoshi Fernando, Hansima Karunaratne, Rashmika Sewwandi, Malki Madara, Sugandika Kumari, Achini Kulsuriya
Also READ: Team India’s best XI for the Women’s ODI tri-series against Sri Lanka and South Africa
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
