Sri Lanka kick-started their 2025 ODI World Cup campaign with the opening game against India at Guwahati, and after spending over two weeks in rain-drenched Colombo, they are finally back in India to play Bangladesh in a crucial league stage match of the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup in Navi Mumbai – set to make its 50-over debut – on Monday.
They are without a win in the tournament so far, having lost three out of their five matches, and two matches rained out. As soon as Chamari Athapaththu made her way into the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday, she went to the middle straightaway to have a look at the surface.
Head coach Rumesh Ratnayake later said that he liked the look of the surface on offer at the venue.
“Well, we had a look at the pitch. Well, unknown quantity at this stage, and looks a nice Mumbai wicket. We used to call it a good Bombay wicket in our time, but – looks a good one,” he said at the pre-match press conference.
Ratnayake admitted that the Sri Lankans were a “bit saddened” by the weather in Colombo, which has seen as many as four abandoned matches in the tournament.
“Yeah, well not a sense of relief (to be playing away from home). I mean to know that we could play a good game of cricket. Full day’s cricket is always an appreciative thing and a thing a coach or player or even the spectators would want to see. And yeah, a bit saddened by the weather not being right back home,” he said.
Bangladesh look for second win
Bangladesh have the same number of points as Sri Lanka, but their only win came in their first match against Pakistan in Colombo. Post that victory, they have come close to registering their second win against the likes of England and South Africa, but have not been able to cross the line.
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They come into this match after a 10-wicket hammering at the hands of Australia at Visakhapatnam. The Nigar Sultana-led side will play both their remaining matches at the D.Y.Patil Stadium and will also need a win to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
A key concern for them throughout the tournament has been middle overs batting and an inability to increase the scoring rate in the middle overs. Sobhana Mistry has been their best batter all tournament with 161 runs in five matches, but even those runs have come at a strike rate of 71.24.
Fahima Khatun expressed confidence that if Bangladesh won their final two matches, they should be okay, in terms of semi-final qualification.
“Yes, yes. Still, we have a chance to make a very good like – four is difficult but I think we’ll if we win those last two games our position will be fine,” Khatun said at the pre-match press conference.
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Khatun also confirmed at the press conference that Marufa Akter was fully fit and would play on Monday.
“Marufa has fully recovered. She’s been practicing hard over the last two days and will be available for tomorrow’s match,” Khatun said.
There has never been a Women’s ODI played at this venue, and so any team that wins the toss might be unsure about what to do if the coin falls in their favour. The crowd, however, would hope for a run feast after perhaps a Diwali lunch feast on Monday.
