India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur acknowledged that the ICC Women's World Cup opener against Sri Lanka wasn't easy despite the hosts earning a facile 59-run victory in the end, under the DLS method.
India took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series, with the final game scheduled to be played in Birmingham on Saturday.
While the move may give a competitive edge over rivals like Bangladesh in the global market, several industry bodies raised concerns that many state governments may not implement it on the ground.
India produced a clinical performance to register a convincing nine-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the first ODI of the ICC Women's Championship, in Galle, on Tuesday. India produced an incisive bowling effort to bundle out Sri Lanka for a meagre 98 in 35.1 overs after the home side opted to bat first and then chased down the target with consummate ease, reaching 100 in 19.5 overs for the loss of just one wicket.
This will be their first encounter after the controversy-filled the Asia Cup earlier this year, in which India refused to shake hands with the Pakistan players.
The lack of runs from captain Suryakumar Yadav and his deputy Shubman Gill remains a talking point.
The first five games of the ICC event have caused a lot of movement in the women's ODI player rankings with Australia skipper Meg Lanning climbing up two spots in the rankings for batters.
If India win Women's World Cup it would be a seismic moment: England captain Sciver-Brunt
Backed by the pace of Annabel Sutherland and spin of Sophie Molineux, who has shaped up well for the slow sub-continent wickets, Australia will take the match against Pakistan to further streamline their strategy before taking on tougher teams like England, India and South Africa in the competition.
Mithali Raj will lead the 14-member Indian squad in the next month's ICC Women's World Cup Qualifiers which brings together 10 sides in their quest to claim the remaining four places in the main event to be held in June next year. The tournament will run from February 7 to 21 at four Colombo venues and the sides finishing in the top four of the Super Six stage will join defending champion Australia, host England, former winner New Zealand and reigning ICC World Twenty20 champion West Indies in the ICC Women's World Cup 2017 from June 26 to July 23.
Mandhana dropped one spot to second after totalling 115 runs across the three matches against England.
Mithali Raj feels India can end their long-standing trophy drought if they seize key moments
India women produced an all-round effort to spank Bangladesh women by nine wickets in a Super Six match of the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier, in Colombo on Friday.
'I look forward to contributing to the next phase of cricket's evolution, expanding its global footprint, enhancing the fan experience, and working closely with ICC Member Boards to build on our strong foundations.'
Healy's injury forces Australia rethink ahead of Women's World Cup clash against England
'No qualifying tournaments have been able to be held yet, so in order to qualify and then compete in the event in 2021 -- it was too risky,' event CEO Andrea Nelson said.
India will face hosts England at Derby on the opening day of the ICC Women's World Cup which gets underway on June 24.
In the spin department, while seasoned campaigner Deepti Sharma is an automatic choice, it remains to be seen whether India go with both Radha Yadav and Sneh Rana or opt for either one of them.
'We have been talking about this for many years -- we have been playing good cricket, but we had to win one big tournament, without that, we couldn't talk about change.'
Pakistan's Sidra Amin reprimanded for breaching ICC Code Of Conduct during loss to India
Have seen that last ball at least 1,000 times: Harmanpreet on life after World Cup
The Indian women's cricket team has set a benchmark with the World Cup triumph and the next goal for the side is to make winning a habit, said pacer Renuka Thakur after returning to her native village in Shimla district on Sunday.
Harmanpreet Kaur blasted a six in the penultimate delivery to power India to a one-wicket win over South Africa in a last-ball thriller at the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier Final at P Sara Oval, in Colombo, on Tuesday.
India's women didn't just win a World Cup, they won the nation's heart, proving that belief, courage, and grace can turn dreams into destiny.
'This report may or may not be historic, may or may not bring a revolution in Indian cricket.'
Australia linking cricket with politics against spirit of game: Afghan chief selector Asadullah
After winning the ODI World Cup title by beating South Africa in the final in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, November 2, 2025, Harmanpreet's advice to budding youngsters is: "Never stop dreaming. You never know where your destiny will take you."
What we saw was not just a player finding form; it was a young woman reclaiming belief. Every shot, every sprint between the wickets, every moment of composure was rebellion. A fierce rebellion against doubt, against erasure, against the quiet cruelty of being left out, points out Prem Panicker.
Healy continued her fine performance with a direct hit to run out Chedean Nation and, with Mohammed and Chinelle Henry unable to bat because of injury and illness, West Indies were dismissed for 148 in 37 overs.
In a dramatic twist ahead of the Women's World Cup semifinal, India have recalled Shafali Verma to the ODI setup after more than a year, following an unfortunate injury to in-form opener Pratika Rawal on Monday.
I performed exactly how I wanted as a senior player: Deepti Sharma
Having also taken two for 21 in the preceding match, she has gained nine places to reach 17th in the rankings for bowlers. The 25-year-old is also up one place to fourth among all-rounders.
The Women in Blue did more than just win a trophy -- they proved that hard work, and believing in themselves, can turn failure into success.
After her early dismissal, Georgia Plimmer brought some spark to the White Ferns' innings, taking on the English attack with a flurry of boundaries.
As India chase history at home in Navi Mumbai, while Laura Wolvaardt's South Africa will look to script their own fairytale, by finally breaking their run of heartbreaks at ICC events.
Pacer Anya Shrubsole starred for England with figures of 6 for 46 off 9.4 overs.
'The time has come to let cricket's oldest rivalry occur naturally, not by design.'
Sheikh Hasina, sentenced to death in absentia in Bangladesh, denounces the tribunal as biased and rigged, claiming the verdict reveals the murderous intent of extremist figures within the interim government.
Frustrating to lose wickets to part-timer; SA are doing right to make three finals: Wolvaardt
During the ICC board meeting, the global body also approved a series of women's Associate Member T20 competitions to boost the competitiveness of smaller cricket-playing nations as it prepares for the expansion of women's events in the 2028-2031 cycle.
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