Belief building as India eye World Cup success on home soil
Despite mixed results in their warm-up games, India believe they will carry confidence into the World Cup.
It's not long now before India will play their ICC Women's Cricket World Cup opener against Sri Lanka in Guwahati.
The squad is hungry to score the proud cricketing nation a maiden Women's World Cup title.
And the side will carry confidence into their first tournament showdown off the back of an impressive four-wicket win over fellow Cup contenders New Zealand.
Scene set for World Cup opener | India v Sri Lanka | Will to Win Preview Show | CWC25
Check out the Will to Win Preview Show for the opening match at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup between India and Sri Lanka.
Arundhati Reddy (2-42 off 9 overs) and Harleen Deol (74 off 79 balls) were two of India's key contributors against the White Ferns and the pair confirmed that it was a match that has lifted the side's belief ahead of their World Cup opener.
"We wanted to take the game deep and we wanted to get that confidence going for the World Cup," Deol told BCCI Media post-game.
Harleen scored 10 boundaries as she helped her side make a successful chase of New Zealand's 232/8 with nearly 10 overs to spare.
Harleen Deol's uppercut four | CWC25
Harleen Deol's stylish four during her 74 in the warm-up between India and New Zealand at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025.
After an injury scare only days earlier, Arundhati Reddy not only played but bowled a notable nine overs against the White Ferns, taking 2-42.
"Good match experience going into the World Cup," Reddy told the BCCI.
"We got good game time. As a team, we feel really prepared and really looking forward to playing the World Cup."
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India wrapped up their #CWC25 warm-ups with a commanding win against New Zealand.
Reddy had to be helped off the ground in a wheelchair in a loss to England just two days earlier. While bowling, she was struck square on the knee by a Heather Knight drive.
But the all-rounder showed resilience and determination to prove her fitness on the eve of the World Cup and suit up just two days later.
"Initially it was scary for me," she continued.
"(I) was really scared to even get up. But I would really like to thank the medical staff of our team, because they really did a good job and they gave me the confidence that I can play."
Following the World Cup opener against Sri Lanka, India will face Pakistan in Colombo on October 5 in what promises to be a blockbuster.
India last hosted this tournament in 2013 and will be firmly focused on setting up a deep run with some early victories.
They're currently the third-ranked nation in One-Day Internationals, behind only Australia (1st) and England (2nd).
Every Harleen Deol boundary from India's warm-up match against New Zealand | Player Highlights | CWC25
Every Harleen Deol boundary from India's warm-up match against New Zealand at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025