The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup returns to India after a 12-year gap. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, India will kick off their campaign against Sri Lanka at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on Tuesday, carrying the aspirations of a nation eager for its first women’s ICC title.

Ranked third in the world, India comes into the tournament with confidence after series wins over England in both ODIs and T20Is, and a competitive pre-tournament series against seven-time champions Australia, narrowly losing the final ODI while chasing 413 in New Delhi.

Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, in exceptional form, will anchor India’s batting. The left-hander has scored four ODI centuries this year, including back-to-back hundreds against Australia, averaging 66.28 with a strike rate of 115.85. She has built a solid o

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