Voll’s 88 powers Australia to 19-run win over India
The win, the first in the format under captain Sophie Molineux, handed Australia their opening points in the multi-format series and set up a decider at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Captains of all eight teams at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 officially launched the marquee event during a special Captains’ Day held simultaneously in Bengaluru and Colombo. The tournament begins on September 30.
Sharing their excitement, the skippers spoke about the significance of the occasion and the challenge that lies ahead. Hosts Harmanpreet Kaur (India) and Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka) reflected on the privilege of playing a World Cup at home.
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“Every team in this World Cup has an equal chance to win, which shows how much we have raised the standard of women’s cricket,”
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Kaur said. “We’ve also started seeing packed stadiums, which is something we really enjoy because we’ve never seen that before. A home World Cup is always special, and there are a lot of expectations from us. We’re going to see a lot of fans in the stadium cheering for us, and I am sure we’ll give our best.”
Athapaththu added, “We are playing on our home soil, and I know many Sri Lankans will be there to support us. I hope to see the vibrant atmosphere in the stadiums during our World Cup matches.”
Defending champions Australia, led by Alyssa Healy, are preparing for a stern test for another shot at the title.
“I believe this is going to be the toughest World Cup we’ve ever been a part of. Australia has a rich history in this format and in World Cups, but I think every single team is going to be tough to beat,” Healy said.
South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt agreed that the competition is wide open. “I think in a tournament like this, every team is a big team. There’s no sort of single team or two that are set up to win it,” she noted.
New Zealand captain Sophie Devine drew confidence from the White Ferns’ 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup triumph.
“It’s certainly a nice feeling to have that confidence and the belief that we can win world events,” she said.
On the rapid growth of the women’s game, Devine added, “I think it’s the opportunities that are provided [for women’s cricket]; it’s been pretty crazy to think at the start of my career.”
Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana Joty underlined the growing interest back home. “We are aware of our responsibility to promote cricket back home, where interest in women’s cricket is growing. We believe it is time to give back to our supporters through our performances,” she said.
England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt emphasised the electric atmosphere expected in India.
“The number of people who come to games in India, support cricket and truly love watching it brings a different energy, another level to the game that we hadn’t experienced before. I think the matches here in India are going to be greatly watched, and that’s really exciting as a player,” she remarked.
Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana was upbeat about her side’s chances after securing qualification back home, earlier this year.
“This familiarity will work in our favour, I believe the conditions in Sri Lanka are similar to those in Pakistan, so we are familiar with the exact conditions,” she said.
The World Cup opens on September 30 with hosts India taking on Sri Lanka in Guwahati. Besides the Northeastern city, matches will be staged across four other venues, Indore, Navi Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Colombo, following a round of warm-up fixtures.
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