India, Sri Lanka, South Africa Launch Women’s ODI Tri-Series Ahead of World Cup

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — The Women’s ODI tri-nation series featuring Sri Lanka, India, and South Africa begins this Sunday, April 30, 2025, at the R Premadasa Stadium.

This series serves as a crucial preparatory event for the Women’s ODI World Cup, set to take place in India later this year. India enters the tournament riding a six-match ODI winning streak after competing against Ireland and the West Indies. In contrast, Sri Lanka, which missed the 2022 World Cup, will look to improve its recent form after losing its last two series against Ireland and New Zealand.

South Africa’s quest for a major trophy continues after a narrow loss to New Zealand in the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Their form against England in the previous year was shaky, securing just one victory in seven matches across all formats.

The tri-series features seven ODIs, culminating in a final on May 11. Matches will be available for streaming through various platforms, including Dialog Television’s The Papare 2 channel and international services.

India’s squad is led by Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, with players like Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Richa Ghosh bolstering the batting lineup. On the bowling front, rookie Kashvee Gautam and seasoned players Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana will play key roles.

Sri Lanka’s squad will be captained by Chamari Athapaththu, featuring many new faces as they look to stabilize their performance. The team includes a mix of experience and young talent, highlighting the return of veteran spinner Inoka Ranaweera.

The tournament is expected to test both teams as they aim to fine-tune their strategies ahead of the World Cup, making this tri-series a pivotal moment in the lead-up to the prestigious event.