GUWAHATI, Sep 29 (Agencies): India will open ICC Women's World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka in Guwahati on Tuesday, aiming to break the jinx of never winning the Women's World Cup.
India should make every effort to put in a "good solid" performance in its Women's World Cup opener against Sri Lanka to not just get the pressure of expectation at home off its back, but also be ready for the rigours at the back end of the tournament, feels Australia great Meg Lanning.
India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, are coming into the showpiece event on the back of a hard-fought ODI series loss to Australia, where opener Smriti Mandhana slammed two back-to-back centuries and the spinners, led by Deepti Sharma, giving a good account of themselves.
But Lanning, 31, who retired from international cricket in 2023 after scoring more than 8,000 runs across formats, said there is nothing better than starting a mega event on a winning note as it builds the tempo.
India enter the tournament as a formidable contender for the glittering trophy, with the competition returning to the country for the first time since 2013. The hosts possess a batting arsenal headlined by the explosive Smriti Mandhana, fresh off a stunning 50-ball century against Australia in New Delhi, alongside players like Harmanpreet, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, and Jemimah Rodrigues, who complement her very well.
The questions, however, remain about India's bowling attack and ground fielding, with lapses surfacing during the recent 2-1 bilateral series loss to Australia. India will be aiming to address these vulnerabilities as soon as possible in their pursuit of glory on home soil.
A home World Cup triumph for India could transform women's cricket in the country forever. It might lead to increased grassroots investment, strengthen the case for pay parity with male cricketers across all levels and make a strong case for premier venues to regularly host women's matches.
More importantly, winning this World Cup would give millions of young girls a historic moment of national pride on home soil.
