When Harmanpreet Kaur led India Women onto the field at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on 30 September 2025, a sea of 22,843 fans roared in – the biggest crowd ever for a group‑stage match at an ICC Women’s event. The clash, part of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025India & Sri Lanka, pitted Kaur’s side against a disciplined Sri Lankan outfit captained by Chamari Athapaththu. The numbers mattered, the atmosphere mattered, and the pitch promised fireworks.
Record‑breaking Crowd at Guwahati
The 22,843 spectators surpassed the previous high of 15,935 set in Dubai during the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup India‑Pakistan game. Ticket prices ranged from ₹150 to ₹1,200, yet half the stadium filled up within hours of the announcement – a clear sign that the Indian public is hungry for top‑level women’s cricket. Local vendors recount how the buzz outside the stadium felt "like a festival", with families, schoolchildren, and former players all gathering in bright jerseys.
Pitch Profile and Weather Outlook
Barsapara’s surface has earned a reputation for being batting‑friendly. Early‑innings bounce is consistent, pace is decent, and the grass cover is modest – perfect for power‑play strokes. As the day wears on, the pitch tends to soften a touch, offering turn for spinners in the middle overs. The weather on match day was sunny with a humid 28 °C, and the forecast called for a light breeze from the east, which could aid swing for the seamers.
Bowling teams will need to rely on variation. Fast bowlers can extract a seam movement of up to 5 m/s, but without disciplined line and length, the flat track will hand runs easily. Spinners, especially off‑spinners, could become match‑winners once the fourth over drops the ball’s speed by roughly 2 km/h.
Probable Line‑ups and Key Players
India Women likely fielded:
- Pratika Rawal – opening bowler
- Smriti Mandhana – left‑handed opener
- Harleen Deol – middle‑order power hitter
- Harmanpreet Kaur (c)
- Jemimah Rodrigues – versatile bat
- Richa Ghosh – wicket‑keeper
- Deepti Sharma – all‑rounder
- Sneh Rana – seamer
- Radha Yadav – left‑arm orthodox spinner
- Shree Charani – young all‑rounder
- Kranti Goud – lower‑order bat
Sri Lanka Women likely lined up:
- Hasini Perera – opener
- Chamari Athapaththu (c)
- Harshitha Samarawickrama – top‑order
- Vishmi Gunaratne – middle‑order
- Kavisha Dilhari – batting all‑rounder
- Anushka Sanjeewani – wicket‑keeper
- Imesha Dulani – seam bowler
- Dewmi Vihanga – fast bowler
- Nilakshi de Silva – off‑spinner
- Piumi Wathsala Badalge – spinner
- Inoka Ranaweera – left‑arm fast‑medium
Experts from the International Cricket Council noted that Kaur’s experience and Mandhana’s aggressive style make India the slight favourite, while Athapaththu’s ability to anchor innings keeps Sri Lanka in the hunt.
Historical Context of Barsapara Stadium
The venue hosted its first men’s ODI on 10 January 2023, when India posted 373/7 against Sri Lanka – a match highlighted by Virat Kohli’s 113 and Rohit Sharma’s 83. That game showed the ground’s ability to produce big scores, reinforcing the belief that batters will dominate here.
Since its inauguration in 2021, Barsapara has also hosted IPL fixtures and Ranji Trophy games, each confirming the wicket’s even bounce. The stadium’s capacity of 40,000, coupled with modern flood‑lights, makes it a prime venue for high‑profile tournaments.
Implications for the Tournament
With eight teams vying for two semi‑final slots from the group stage, early points are gold. A win for India could place them at the top of Group A, giving them a strategic edge for the knockout draw. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, knows every run counts – a narrow loss still leaves hope if they clinch victories against lower‑ranked sides.
Beyond the scoreboard, the record attendance sends a strong message to sponsors and broadcasters: women’s cricket can fill stadiums. The Board of Control for Cricket in India is already planning to extend stadium‑size tickets for the remainder of the World Cup, hoping to replicate Guwahati’s success in Kolkata and Mumbai.
What to Watch Next
Next up, India will face England on 3 October 2025 at the Wankhede Stadium, while Sri Lanka meets Australia at the R. Premadasa Stadium on the same day. Analysts suggest that the momentum from Guwahati could spill over into these fixtures, especially for the Indian batters who just tasted a roaring home crowd.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the record attendance affect the future of women's cricket in India?
The 22,843‑strong crowd proves there is a sizable fan base willing to pay for tickets. Sponsors have already pledged an extra ₹15 crore for the remaining matches, and broadcasters are negotiating higher rights fees, which could translate into better pay and more grassroots programs for young girls across the country.
What are India's biggest batting strengths heading into this game?
India boasts a deep top order with Mandhana’s aggressive left‑handed swing and Kaur’s power hitting. In the middle, Deepti Sharma’s ability to both accelerate and bowl off‑spin adds flexibility, while Radha Yadav’s left‑arm spin can choke runs in the death overs. The combination of experience and youth makes the batting line‑up versatile.
How might the Guwahati pitch challenge Sri Lanka's bowlers?
Sri Lanka’s seam attack will find limited movement on the even bounce, so they’ll need to focus on variations – slower balls and yorkers. Their spinners, especially Nilakshi de Silva, could benefit once the pitch loses a fraction of its pace after the fourth hour, but they’ll have to bowl tightly to prevent the Indian batters from building partnerships.
When and where is the next group‑stage match in the tournament?
The next Group A fixtures are on 3 October 2025: India versus England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, and Sri Lanka versus Australia at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium. Both matches kick off at 14:00 IST.
What does this win (or loss) mean for India's chances of reaching the semi‑finals?
A victory puts India at the top of the group with six points, giving them a cushion if they slip in later games. Even a loss still leaves a path to the semis, provided they win both remaining matches and maintain a healthy net run rate, which is currently superior to England and South Africa.