UPDATE: The highly anticipated Women’s Cricket World Cup is set to commence on October 5, 2023, as India prepares to host the tournament for the fourth time, hoping to clinch their first title on home soil. The opening match will see India face off against Sri Lanka in Guwahati, India, with the tournament culminating in the final on November 2.
This year, the competition features eight teams: India, defending champions Australia, England, South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. India’s past attempts in 1978, 1997, and 2013 saw them fall short, but now, under the leadership of captain Harmanpreet Kaur and star batter Smriti Mandhana, the team is fueled with renewed determination.
Mandhana has been in spectacular form since the last tournament, amassing 2,100 runs at an impressive average of 58.33, including eight centuries. “I think our belief has changed a lot with the effort put in,” Mandhana stated. “The fight will always be there, and everyone in this team believes they are match-winners.”
India’s bowling line-up, spearheaded by spinners Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, and Radha Yadav, is expected to be a key strength as they face off against formidable opponents. The first major clash against Australia will take place on October 9 in Visakhapatnam, where the Australians aim to extend their dominance—having reached the finals in nine out of twelve tournaments.
For Australian skipper Alyssa Healy, this could be a pivotal tournament, as it may be the final ODI World Cup for players like Beth Mooney and Ellyse Perry. “We are going to play a lot of spin in this World Cup, especially in the middle overs,” Healy remarked, indicating their strategy going forward.
The tournament will feature a total of 31 matches across five venues, with four located in India and one in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Notably, India will also play their arch-rivals Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on October 5. Due to political tensions, this match will take place at a neutral venue, as per ICC regulations.
India is not the only team with high expectations. Second-ranked England enters the tournament with a new leadership structure, while fourth-ranked New Zealand aims to adapt to Indian conditions ahead of the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup. Meanwhile, South Africa has kept its core intact, hoping to leverage their experience from previous tournaments.
As excitement builds, fans worldwide are eager to see if India can break their home curse and achieve a historic win. With the opening match just hours away, all eyes will be on the pitch in Guwahati.
Stay tuned for live updates as the tournament unfolds!
