Guwahati: Deepti Sharma led from the front with both bat and ball as India opened their ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 campaign in style, defeating Sri Lanka by 59 runs (DLS method) at a packed ACA Stadium in Guwahati on Tuesday.

In a rain-curtailed game reduced to 47 overs per side, the all-rounder played a crucial knock of 53 runs off 53 balls before returning with figures of 3 for 54, ensuring India got the perfect start to their World Cup journey in front of a record attendance.

India had set Sri Lanka a stiff target of 270, thanks to Deepti’s composed half-century and handy contributions from Amanjot Kaur and Harleen Deol. In reply, Sri Lanka looked steady for a while as skipper Chamari Athapaththu and Harshitha Samarawickrama built a fifty-run partnership for the second wicket. But once Deepti broke through by bowling Athapaththu, India’s bowlers took charge.

The wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals, with Sneh Rana and Sree Charani striking twice each, while Kranti Gaud, Amanjot Kaur, and Pratika Rawal chipped in with one apiece. The collective effort meant Sri Lanka never really recovered and fell well short of the target.

India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur praised her side’s effort under pressure. “It was not an easy game. In ICC tournaments, every match comes with pressure. The way Amanjot and Deepti handled the middle overs was outstanding. Harleen’s innings was also crucial. Having batting depth till No. 7 or 8 is our biggest strength. On the bowling front, Sneh and Deepti’s spells gave us the breakthroughs we needed. Charani’s spell was also pleasing to watch. Overall, the team delivered exactly what we expected,” she said, while also assuring that Harleen Deol’s injury was not a major concern.

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu admitted her side let the game slip with missed opportunities. “We executed our plans but dropped a couple of catches, especially Amanjot’s, and that cost us. As a batting unit, we lost key wickets at crucial times. Inoka and Udeshika bowled well with their experience, but the rest struggled a little. I still have faith in my youngsters – they have won games for us in the past, and I believe they can bounce back,” she said.

For Deepti Sharma, who was named Player of the Match, the win was about setting the tone for the tournament. “The partnership with Amanjot was the turning point. We had a plan to bat deep, and we executed it. I don’t feel pressure in these situations – I enjoy my batting and focus on backing my strengths. On this pitch, I stuck to stump-to-stump bowling. The first match always sets the tone, and hopefully we can carry this momentum throughout the tournament,” she said.

With a convincing all-round display and a strong start, India now look well-set to build momentum in the coming fixtures of the World Cup.